MCD Begins Battery Litter Picker Trials in Eight Keshavpuram Wards

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi began trial operations of vacuum-based, battery-operated litter picker machines across eight wards of the Keshavpuram zone on Tuesday. The initiative marks the civic body's latest step toward strengthening cleanliness and waste-management efforts in the capital.

The new cleaning equipment was inaugurated by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on October 17. Following the initial trials, the MCD plans to deploy a total of 1,000 such machines throughout the city, with four machines designated for each of Delhi’s 250 municipal wards.

According to officials, the machines are fitted with a suction hose designed to pick up light waste, such as paper cups, plastic bottles, wrappers, and fallen leaves. The devices are specifically intended to ensure efficient sanitation in narrow lanes, markets, busy commercial districts, and public spaces that are difficult to access with large mechanised road sweepers.

The civic body stated that the ongoing trial run is focused on familiarising sanitation workers with operating the equipment efficiently in congested pockets and high-footfall areas.

Officials added that the battery-powered machines will supplement existing cleanliness drives across the city by enhancing litter collection and helping sanitation staff maintain areas that conventional mechanised sweepers cannot reach.