NMC Spends Rs 3.28 Crore on Hired Road Sweeping Machine in 2.5 Years Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) mechanised road-cleaning operations have come under scrutiny after an RTI query revealed that the civic body spent over Rs 3.28 crore on hiring a single road-sweeping machine in less than two-and-a-half years. This equates to a monthly expenditure of approximately Rs 11.28 lakh. According to information obtained by activist Abhay Kolarakar, the Solid Waste Management Department has hired eight mechanised road-sweeping machines for cleaning city roads and reducing dust pollution. One of these machines was rented from a private firm and operated from August 1, 2023, until December 2025, during which the NMC paid Rs 3.28 crore in rental charges. The RTI response further indicates that details regarding ownership, procurement costs, and maintenance expenditure of the remaining seven machines were not specified. While the department has acknowledged the benefits of mechanised cleaning, including improved cleanliness standards, removal of fine dust particles, and mitigation of air pollution, the financial implications of its current strategy remain under scrutiny. The annual cost for a single machine exceeds Rs 1.35 crore, raising questions about whether renting is more cost-effective than purchasing additional units. However, the source does not provide data on procurement costs or maintenance expenses for the other machines. The revelations have sparked discussions about the NMC's reliance on rented equipment. Critics argue that the significant outlay for a single machine could have been better allocated to acquiring more units, potentially improving efficiency and reducing long-term costs.#nagpur_municipal_corporation #solid_waste_management_department #abhay_kolarakar #road_sweeping_machine #rti
