Close on the heels of procuring a jetting-cum-suction machine to declog drains, the Kochi Corporation launched a pair of truck-mounted sweeping machines, which were procured using ₹10.98 crore from Cochin Smart Mission Limited (CSML) funds, here on Friday to clean roads.
The machines that can clean up to 8 km in an hour were launched by Minister for Local Self-Government M.B. Rajesh at Ponnurunni. Each of the 6,000-litre capacity machines can store 1,800 litres of water that can be sprinkled on roads to prevent emanation of dust when the cleaning process is on. The machines come with a five-year operation and maintenance contract. They can be tracked using GPS and also have a pair of CCTVs, informed sources said. Those present at the function included Mayor M. Anilkumar and CSML chief executive officer Shaji V. Nair.
The machines would initially be deployed to cover 35 km under the first phase of the project, mostly during night hours. It can clear roads of small stones too, CSML sources said.
