Delhi Mayor flags off new fleet of vehicles
Aims to improve sanitation services, monsoon preparedness
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Thursday flagged off a new fleet of vehicles aimed at strengthening sanitation services and improving the city’s preparedness for monsoon-related waterlogging, officials said.
The fleet, flagged off by Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh, includes 16 backhoe loaders, two flood-control emergency vehicles and six mechanical road sweepers. Senior MCD officials, including Standing Committee Chairperson Satya Sharma and Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar, were present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Singh said the induction marks the second phase of adding advanced machinery to the civic body’s fleet and reflects efforts to improve on-ground service delivery. He said the move is part of a broader push to make the city cleaner and better equipped to handle seasonal challenges.
Highlighting concerns over recurring urban flooding, the Mayor said the newly inducted CNG-powered flood-control vehicles are equipped with pumps capable of removing up to 10,000 litres of water per minute. These are expected to enable quicker response during waterlogging incidents and help minimise traffic disruptions and damage during heavy rains.
Officials said the vehicles will be operated under a comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&M) model, with quality checks carried out by the IIT-Delhi. Each unit has an estimated life of 15 years.
The MCD has also added six truck-mounted mechanical road sweepers with a capacity of 4.5 cubic metres to enhance mechanised cleaning and curb dust pollution. The machines are expected to reduce manual sweeping, particularly on high-traffic roads, improving worker safety.
Additionally, 16 new backhoe loaders have been inducted, taking the total number to 68. These machines will be used for handling mixed waste and loading operations, helping speed up sanitation work.
Civic officials said the move is a part of the ongoing efforts to modernise infrastructure, improve efficiency and strengthen the city’s overall sanitation and emergency response systems.
