TN floats tenders to outsource waste collection in Tambaram and other corporations
The Tamil Nadu government has floated tenders to transition solid waste collection and transportation services to a public-private partnership model in Tambaram and 11 other municipal corporations across the state. The initiative aims to bring in private or third-party agencies to manage sanitation operations.
Under this plan, the state government has issued tenders to appoint consultancy firms that will prepare detailed feasibility reports and transaction advisory plans. Tambaram has been grouped under Package 1 of the project, which also includes the municipal corporations of Avadi, Hosur, and Vellore.
The consultancy contract for each package is estimated to cost Rs 1.35 crore. According to officials, the bids for these consultancy contracts are scheduled to be opened on July 27.
The overall initiative spans 12 municipal corporations divided into three distinct packages. While Package 1 covers Tambaram, Avadi, Hosur, and Vellore, Package 2 comprises Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, and Tiruppur. Package 3 includes Madurai, Thoothukudi, Trichy, and Tirunelveli.
The tender notification has been issued under the state government’s project development grant fund to facilitate private participation in municipal sanitation operations. The selected consultants will assist the government in designing and implementing the public-private partnership framework.
Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department Secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi clarified that the current exercise does not mean waste management contracts will be immediately awarded to private firms. Instead, the process is designed to evaluate the most suitable model for the next phase of solid waste management.
Bedi noted that the current waste management contracts, which were awarded in 2022, are nearing completion. Before floating fresh tenders for the actual waste collection, the government intends to assess the gaps in the existing system, review contractual provisions, and identify measures to improve efficiency, accountability, and service quality. The detailed feasibility reports prepared by the consultants will help determine the structure of these future contracts.
