The Coimbatore Corporation has proposed setting up 10 dedicated parking facilities for its waste collection fleet, with two facilities each in the North, East, South, West and Central zones. Each facility is estimated to cost ₹1.8 crore.

According to Corporation officials, the facilities will be equipped with EV charging stations, vehicle repair workshops, drainage infrastructure, toilets for drivers, CCTV surveillance and security arrangements.

The proposal is aimed at improving the management of the Corporation’s waste collection fleet, which comprises 401 light commercial vehicles used for door-to-door collection, 131 battery-operated vehicles (BOVs), and 626 larger vehicles, including lorries and open-body trucks used for transportation of waste.

At present, the vehicles are parked in Corporation-owned open grounds wherever space is available. Officials said battery-operated vehicles are charged at ward offices, and issues related to charging infrastructure and delays in the arrival of mechanical teams for repairs occasionally disrupt waste collection operations.

The lack of secure parking facilities has also led to incidents of theft of vehicle spares from parked vehicles, officials said.

Under the proposed system, sanitation workers and drivers will take out the vehicles for waste collection operations in the morning and return them to the designated parking facilities after completion of work. The facilities will be monitored by security personnel and equipped with surveillance cameras.

Officials said the availability of vehicle repair workshops at the parking facilities would enable minor repairs and maintenance works to be carried out promptly, reducing downtime and ensuring uninterrupted waste collection services. The facilities would also provide a dedicated space for charging battery-operated vehicles and improve overall fleet management.