Bengaluru: In a bid to improve waste collection efficiency and enhance cleanliness across the city, the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) has revised the masking (attendance) hours for auto tipper vehicles operating in different wards.
According to a press release, the new schedule will come into effect from August 25, 2025, with the vehicle scanning window shifted to 5.30 am–6.30 am, instead of the current 6 am–7.30 am.
New timings to match public routine
BSWML said the change was introduced to better align waste collection with the public’s daily schedules. By starting an hour earlier, the civic body expects more residents to dispose of their waste before leaving for work. The new timing is also aimed at discouraging indiscriminate dumping, which often leads to the creation of garbage black spots in neighbourhoods.
Officials have urged citizens to cooperate with sanitation workers and adapt to the revised schedule to ensure cleaner streets and more efficient waste collection.
Bengaluru’s poor Swachh Survekshan ranking
The timing revision comes against the backdrop of Bengaluru’s disappointing performance in the Swachh Survekshan 2025 survey, where the city was ranked the fifth dirtiest city in India among those with a population of over one million.
The survey, conducted by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, placed Bengaluru alongside Ranchi, Chennai, Ludhiana, and Madurai in the list of dirtiest big cities. By contrast, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Lucknow, Raipur, and Jabalpur emerged as the top five cleanest cities.
The Ministry noted that this year’s evaluation framework had been refined for metropolitan cities, while criteria for smaller towns were simplified to create a level playing field and encourage improvement across all urban centres.
Civic challenges amid infrastructure growth
Despite being India’s tech capital, Bengaluru has been struggling with waste management, traffic congestion, and crumbling civic infrastructure. Experts say the city’s poor cleanliness ranking reflects the growing mismatch between rapid infrastructure development and basic urban services.
The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government has been focusing heavily on large-scale projects, including flyovers and metro expansion, but critics argue that improving everyday civic issues like waste management and sanitation must also take priority.
Push for cleaner neighbourhoods
Officials believe that shifting collection hours earlier will make a noticeable difference if citizens actively participate. The BSWML has also indicated that stricter monitoring mechanisms and penalties for non-compliance with waste segregation rules will be enforced in the coming months.
Civic activists, however, warn that the issue goes beyond timings. They argue that better accountability, modern waste-processing facilities, and decentralised solutions are required to achieve lasting improvements.
Conclusion
As Bengaluru grapples with its ranking as one of India’s dirtiest large cities, the advancement of waste collection hours marks a small but significant step toward tackling the city’s garbage crisis. Whether the change leads to visible improvement will depend not just on BSWML’s enforcement, but also on citizen cooperation and long-term policy measures.