The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has deployed two high-tech sewage cleaning vehicles provided by the Maharashtra state government, signalling a significant shift in the city’s approach to managing its underground drainage network.
The move aligns with the national mandate to eliminate manual scavenging and bring Indian sanitation infrastructure in line with global best practices. Commissioned at the civic headquarters earlier this week, these advanced vehicles—featuring integrated suction, jetting, and water recycling systems—are expected to drastically reduce health hazards for sanitation workers and improve the efficiency of citywide sewer maintenance. As part of a broader initiative by the Maharashtra Urban Development Department, similar vehicles are being distributed across municipalities statewide, reflecting a statewide convergence on mechanised sewage solutions.
The initiative stems from the Central Government’s directive to fully eliminate manual intervention in hazardous sewage operations. The deployment of these machines across urban India is part of a multipronged national strategy to safeguard sanitation workers’ rights, modernise civic service delivery, and build climate-resilient urban infrastructure. The two vehicles deployed in Pune comprise one with an 18.5-tonne capacity and another with an 8-tonne capacity. Both are fitted with state-of-the-art ‘Suction cum Jetting with Water Recycle System’ units, designed not only to unclog and clean sewer lines but also to reuse extracted water after filtration. This innovative feature supports the city’s wider sustainability goals, ensuring efficient water use even during maintenance cycles.
According to officials present at the commissioning event, the vehicles have been leased for a period of seven years, during which all operational costs will be covered by the state government. Experts from the municipal engineering division noted that the machines will be deployed in high-density urban zones, where traditional methods have often fallen short due to volume and complexity of sewer lines. Civic engineers further stated that these systems are equipped to handle solid waste blockages, sludge, and oily residues more comprehensively than legacy vacuum or manual methods. The recycled water component alone is anticipated to save over 10,000 litres of water per day, depending on usage frequency and sewer load, which plays directly into Pune’s green infrastructure goals under the Smart City Mission and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
The human impact of this upgrade cannot be overstated. Manual scavenging, despite being outlawed, remains a reality in parts of India due to infrastructural and administrative gaps. By introducing mechanised cleaning systems, the PMC is not only meeting compliance requirements but also protecting its frontline sanitation workforce from exposure to toxic gases and biohazards common in sewer environments. Urban development experts have praised the integration of water-recycling sewage systems as a step toward future-proofing municipal infrastructure. Given Pune’s rapid population growth and urban sprawl, the demand on its underground networks has increased exponentially, resulting in frequent blockages, public health risks, and service delays. Mechanised cleaning vehicles are viewed as critical to building city resilience amid such pressures.
However, the move also raises questions about operational training, maintenance accountability, and community outreach. Experts suggest that while the introduction of machinery solves one layer of the problem, its sustained efficacy hinges on well-trained staff, timely deployment, and data-driven performance tracking. Local stakeholders and advocacy groups are also calling for greater transparency in vehicle routing and maintenance schedules, noting that the effectiveness of such assets will ultimately be measured not just in press releases but in cleaner neighbourhoods and reduced citizen complaints. Nevertheless, the introduction of these machines offers hope for equitable and dignified sanitation work. It also marks an inflection point for Pune, a city positioning itself as a leader in climate-resilient urban governance. With sustainability, human dignity, and innovation at the heart of this development, Pune’s example could well inspire similar upgrades in urban centres across the country.
As the vehicles roll out into neighbourhoods, residents and civic workers alike will be watching closely—gauging not just the sound of the engines, but the promise they carry for a cleaner, fairer city.
Pune gets new machines to clean drains
