Chennai: Tamil Nadu is set to outsource solid waste collection and transportation services in 12 municipal corporations across the state by roping in private companies. The cities include Avadi, Tambaram, Vellore, Hosur, Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Tiruppur, Trichy, Madurai, Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli. Tenders to appoint consultancy firms for preparing detailed feasibility reports and transaction advisory plans for the public-private partnership (PPP) model project were floated on Saturday.To facilitate the process, the 12 corporations have been divided into three packages. Package 1 covers Avadi, Hosur, Tambaram and Vellore; package 2 includes Coimbatore, Erode, Salem and Tiruppur; and package 3 comprises Madurai, Thoothukudi, Trichy and Tirunelveli. The consultancy contract for each package has been estimated at 1.35 crore, with bids scheduled to be opened on July 27.The tender notification, issued under the state govt’s project development grant fund (PDGF), will bring private participation into sanitation operations in these corporations. The selected consultants will prepare detailed feasibility reports and assist the govt in designing and implementing the PPP framework for the collection and transportation of municipal solid waste.When contacted, municipal administration and water supply dept secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi, told TOI that the proposed exercise does not immediately award waste management contracts to private firms but is intended to evaluate the most suitable model for next phase of solid waste management services.“The current contracts awarded in 2022 are nearing completion. Before floating fresh tenders, the govt wants to assess the gaps in the existing system, review contractual provisions, and identify measures to improve efficiency, accountability and service quality. The consultant will prepare a detailed feasibility report and transaction advisory plan, which will help determine the structure of future contracts,” the official said.
