The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has paused the rollout of 60 electric vehicles intended for door-to-door garbage collection following discrepancies in their specifications. These electric light commercial vehicles (LCVs) are equipped with segregated bins, have a waste carrying capacity of up to 600 kg, and can travel 157 km on a single charge.
GMC Mayor Mrigen Sarania stated that the vehicles were procured from Isha Fab Engineerings Private Limited under a tender issued last October. The tender stipulated that the containers be constructed from galvanized iron (GI) sheets with a thickness of 2.00 mm. However, inspections revealed the actual thickness to be only 1.5 mm, prompting the suspension of their use until the issue is rectified.
“We invested significantly in these vehicles, expecting them to be deployed immediately across all 60 wards for garbage collection. This setback is due to the non-compliance with our specifications,” Mayor Sarania said. “The matter is now under review by the GMC mayor-in-council, led by Deputy Mayor Smita Roy. Our initial plan is to hold the supplier accountable and ensure they correct the specifications. Additionally, we are considering imposing a fine on the company,” he added.
This development is a significant halt in the city’s efforts to enhance waste management efficiency using environmentally-friendly solutions.
