The agency said that contractors often go on strike, and in such cases, garbage collection comes to a complete halt as the corporation and BSWML are fully dependent on them.
| Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR
To get Bengaluru’s waste collection system out of the clutches of contractors, Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) has proposed two models to tackle the garbage collection problem — either a government-owned fleet for waste collection or a self-employment model under which government-owned vehicles would be handed over to drivers and helpers, who would eventually become owners of the vehicles.The proposal has been submitted to the government following a hearing before the Karnataka Lokayukta on June 10, during which concerns were raised over Bengaluru’s continued dependence on private contractors for primary solid waste collection and transportation.BSWML has pushed for the two models citing examples of Mysuru, which topped the Swachh Survekshan rankings in 2016, and Indore, which has consistently ranked among the cleanest cities in the country.The agency said that contractors often go on strike, and in such cases, garbage collection comes to a complete halt as the corporation and BSWML are fully dependent on them.BSWML CEO Karee Gowda said Bengaluru’s waste collection tenders have repeatedly been delayed by court cases and re-tendering. Even recent tenders floated have faced legal challenges and a lack of bidders.Two modelsAs a solution, Mr. Gowda has proposed that the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and BSWML acquire their own fleet of vehicles and directly undertake at least a portion of waste collection operations.Under the second model, vehicles purchased by civic agencies would be allotted to drivers rather than contractors. Drivers would be assigned responsibility for specific waste collection blocks and would pay an advance amount of ₹2 lakh per vehicle. The advance amount would serve as the down payment, while the remaining cost would be financed through bank loans. Loan repayments would be deducted from monthly payments, and ownership of the vehicle would eventually be transferred to the driver after seven years.BSWML said the second model could create nearly 4,800 self-employed operators while reducing dependence on contractors.BSWML said that Bengaluru currently has a population of about 1.2 crore and nearly 30 lakh households. Based on the existing norm of one auto tipper for every 750 households, around 4,000 vehicles are required for primary waste collection.Mr. Gowda said that between 5% and 10% of auto tippers remain absent from service on any given day. “Since each vehicle caters to around 750 households, such absences leave thousands of households without waste collection services,” he said, arguing that although penalties have been imposed, the contractors have often not submitted bills for several months, making recovery difficult.Four-wheelersMr. Gowda further pointed out that more than half of the vehicles currently used for waste collection are around 15 years old. Most are three-wheeler auto tippers with a carrying capacity of only about 500 kg and are not equipped with GPS systems, making it difficult to monitor their movement. To address this, BSWML has proposed replacing them with four-wheeled electric vehicles that have a higher carrying capacity.According to the proposal, the new vehicles would be fitted with GPS tracking systems, public address systems and front and rear dash cameras, enabling real-time monitoring of waste collection operations. Mr. Gowda said the electric vehicles would also be less polluting and cheaper to operate, with running costs estimated at around ₹1 per kilometre. BSWML estimates that each electric vehicle, along with necessary utilities, would cost between ₹9.46 lakh and ₹11.16 lakh. Administrative approval has already been granted for the purchase of 40 such vehicles at an estimated cost of ₹4.97 crore in the first phase.Political rowThe proposal comes a day after a fresh political row erupted between Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka. On June 10, Mr. Ashoka alleged that Mr. Shivakumar was acting as the “spokesperson of the garbage mafia”. He also lodged complaints with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and the Karnataka Lokayukta, alleging a “₹39,000-crore scam involving a ₹10,000-crore kickback” in the new Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) tenders, and sought a probe into the matter. Published - June 11, 2026 11:02 pm IST
