The Congress-led Karnataka government has sparked a fresh controversy over its decision to hire 59 mechanical sweepers to clean Bengaluru roads for Rs 613.25 crore for over seven years. The scheme, which covers the main and sub-main roads under the jurisdiction of the five municipal corporations of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), has been sharply criticised by opposition parties, who have alleged financial irregularities and money laundering in the guise of a cleanliness project.
The opposition alleges that the state government could have purchased these machines outright at a significantly lower cost rather than hiring them for an exorbitant amount. Assembly Opposition Leader R. Ashok said, “A single road sweeper will cost up to Rs 2.5 crore. Even including maintenance and salaries, each unit will cost roughly Rs 5 lakh per year. But to rent 46 sweepers for seven years, the government is spending Rs 613 crore. If the machines were purchased directly, the total cost would have been around Rs 308 crore. On the surface, this looks like a massive money-laundering operation.”
The mechanical sweepers are to be deployed across the five municipal corporations of Bengaluru Central, East, West, North, and South. The total stretch of roads to be cleaned is approximately 4720 km, including both arterial and sub-arterial roads. Under the plan, the municipal corporations are instructed to issue tenders in five packages for the rental of sweepers. The rent has been fixed at Rs 894.53 per km, raising questions about the financial prudence of such a decision.
#600PercentCommission loading…@siddaramaiah Govt plans to spend ₹600 Cr on renting sweeping machines at six times the cost of buying the same machines!
No guarantee that these machines will clean the streets – but they will definitely CLEAN SWEEP the hard-earned taxpayers’… pic.twitter.com/iMpJYoerct
— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) November 18, 2025
Critics have further argued that the scheme could result in duplication of efforts if roads are already maintained under other initiatives, including the Swachh Bharat Mission. The opposition warns that this misuse of public funds is not only financially irresponsible but also indicative of a broader culture of corruption and preferential treatment for contractors.
JDS Youth Wing State President Nikhil Kumaraswamy expressed outrage at the decision. “Why rent machines worth Rs 613 crore when buying them outright would cost only Rs 308 crore? DCM D.K. Shivakumar, who oversees Bengaluru, must explain this to the people of Karnataka. It is evident that a huge commission has been sanctioned under the pretext of renting road sweepers,” he said, highlighting concerns of opaque dealings and potential kickbacks.
Sources familiar with the plan say that administrative approval for the project bypassed detailed scrutiny and raises suspicions of favouritism towards certain private contractors. The opposition has demanded a complete audit of the project and called for a public explanation of why hiring was preferred over buying, despite the clear cost benefits. They argue that the government’s decision prioritises contractors’ profits over public welfare.
The breakdown of machines for each corporation includes 10 for Bangalore Central covering 832 km, 11 for East Corporation covering 870 km, 14 for West Corporation covering 1090 km, 13 for North Corporation covering 1034 km, and 11 for South Corporation covering 894 km. Together, they will service 4720 km of roads, yet the financial outlay has become the primary concern among opposition leaders and civic activists.
BJP and JDS leaders have publicly condemned the move, accusing the Congress government of exploiting public funds under the guise of maintaining cleanliness. They have demanded accountability and transparency, asserting that the hiring arrangement is a clear attempt to divert funds to private interests. The government, however, has approved the plan, and the hiring process is set to begin, leaving critics apprehensive about the misuse of taxpayer money.
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