Maharashtra's Civic Body Adopts 'Chennai Model' To Achieve Garbage-Free Zones

In a landmark move to modernise urban sanitation, Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) will roll out “Chennai model” of waste management beginning May 18 — making it the first civic body in Maharashtra and only the second in the country to adopt the approach.

'Chennai Model' Of Waste Management

Inspired by the successful “Garbage Free City” initiative pioneered by Chennai in 2020, the KDMC plans to replicate the model’s systematic and technology-driven methods to improve cleanliness and solid waste handling.

As part of the first phase, the initiative will cover seven wards spanning Kalyan East, Dombivli, and Kalyan Rural constituencies. KDMC has joined hands with Sumit Elkoplast, a private firm specialising in waste solutions, to manage door-to-door collection, transport, and street cleaning operations — which will be carried out in three shifts, 24/7.

"This will be the first such initiative in Maharashtra and the second in the country after Chennai. This ambitious initiative will be inaugurated on May 18. Chennai is not only the oldest municipal corporation in India but also in the world after London. Chennai has been successfully implementing a unique 'Garbage Free City' initiative," it said, as per a report on PTI.

To boost responsiveness and transparency, the civic body is also launching a mobile application for residents to report waste-related issues. These complaints, along with those received via social media and phone, will be monitored and resolved through a newly established Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC).

Officials say the move is aimed at replicating the visible gains achieved by Chennai, where sanitation standards have significantly improved since implementing the model over four years ago.

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