The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has proposed a 10-year sanitation and waste management programme worth Rs. 3.3 billion to strengthen civic services for the city’s growing population, estimated at around 2.7 million. Thane’s population has increased significantly from nearly 1.8 million in 2011, while a substantial daily commuter population further adds pressure on municipal infrastructure.
The city generates approximately 1,500-1,600 tonnes of waste every day from residential neighbourhoods, commercial areas and informal settlements, creating a growing need for consistent waste collection and sanitation services.
The proposed project will be implemented under a design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) model. It will bring door-to-door waste collection, transportation, street sweeping, sanitation services in slum settlements and public grievance management under a single operational framework.
TMC’s nine ward committees will be divided into three packages for implementation. Package 1 will include Diva, Mumbra and Kalwa. Package 2 will cover Majiwada-Manpada, Vartaknagar and Lokmanya-Savarkarnagar, while Package 3 will comprise Uthalsar, Naupada-Kopri and Wagle. Separate tenders have been floated for each package, with expenditure during the first year estimated at Rs. 2.5 billion.
A central command centre will oversee operations and monitor service delivery across the city. The system will also provide round-the-clock grievance redressal, allowing residents to report missed waste collections, sanitation problems and other service-related issues.
The payment mechanism is designed to make contractors accountable for performance. Half of the billing will comprise fixed operating costs, while the remaining 50 per cent will be linked to performance indicators. Contractors could face penalties if specified service standards are not met.
The project also includes a long-term asset transfer mechanism. At the completion of the 10-year contract, permanent infrastructure such as workshops and parking facilities will be handed over to TMC.
The proposed sanitation overhaul is expected to create a more integrated municipal service system while improving accountability, monitoring and responsiveness as Thane continues to expand.
Source: Construction World
