The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is set to roll out 1,000 vacuum-based litter pickers in high-footfall areas to improve cleanliness and dust control. This initiative is part of a larger project estimated at ₹1,487 crore (approximately $180 million USD) aimed at reducing reliance on manual sweeping, which often exacerbates dust pollution and struggles to keep up with rising waste generation. The mechanised machines will be deployed across all 12 MCD zones over an eight-year contract period, operated by private contractors. These battery-operated units are designed to efficiently collect small waste items like plastic wrappers and cigarette butts while offering a low-noise, zero-emission alternative. The project has been approved under a Delhi government scheme and will complement the work of sanitation workers, thereby enhancing solid waste management and reducing environmental contamination. Earlier this year, the MCD also received approval for the procurement of 70 compact mechanical road sweepers as part of its efforts to tackle road dust and improve sanitation in the city.