Pune: In an effort to maintain cleanliness in the city, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is set to implement overnight garbage collection across the city. The initiative, aimed at ensuring clean streets by morning, is expected to commence within the next eight days.

Currently, garbage collection begins around 10–11 a.m., leaving many areas littered and dirty throughout the early morning hours. Busy zones such as Mandai, Tulshibaug, Timber Market, and food streets generate significant amounts of waste due to heavy foot traffic during the day and late into the night.

Adding to this problem, some residents irresponsibly dispose of garbage in open spaces at night, resulting in unsightly piles of waste along roadsides. Despite the municipal corporation imposing fines on offenders, open dumping remains a persistent issue. Combined with delays in morning garbage collection, these factors contribute to the widespread visibility of garbage in the city.

New Plan for Nighttime Cleaning

To address this, the PMC has developed a plan for nighttime garbage collection. Sandeep Kadam, head of the Solid Waste Management Department, announced that arrangements are being made for night-shift workers and garbage collection vehicles. The PMC has recently acquired 81 new garbage collection vehicles, equipped with awareness-raising speakers. These have been distributed to regional offices based on requirements.

With the addition of the new vehicles, the PMC now has a total of 351 garbage collection vehicles. The necessary personnel for nighttime operations, including drivers and workers, are expected to be deployed within the next week. Once the system is in place, garbage will be collected overnight, ensuring that streets are clean by morning.

Warning to Citizens

The PMC has reiterated its commitment to penalizing those who dump garbage in open spaces. Sandeep Kadam urged citizens to act responsibly, stating that strict action will be taken against anyone caught dumping waste in public areas.