T’puram : The much-touted CITIIS 2.0 (City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain) solid waste management programme is expected to receive final approval from Union govt this week, paving the way for the launch of one of the biggest urban sanitation and waste management initiatives in the state.Officials of Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL), the nodal agency implementing the project along with the city corporation, said all procedural formalities and submission of detailed project report (DPR) have been completed and the proposal is currently under final evaluation by Centre.“We are expecting final clearance between May 26 and 30. Once the approval comes, implementation activities can begin in June,” a senior SCTL official told TOI.The official said the agreement between SCTL and corporation for executing the project would also be signed next month. The project is part of Centre-backed CITIIS 2.0 programme launched as a successor to the Smart Cities Mission, with a focus on climate-resilient urban development, circular economy practices and integrated waste management systems.Thiruvananthapuram was selected as the only city from Kerala among 18 cities chosen nationwide under the programme after a competitive evaluation involving more than 80 smart cities. The scheme is supported by ministry of housing and urban affairs along with international partners including French Development Agency (AFD), European Union and German development bank KfW.According to official estimates, the capital generates more than 350 tonnes of solid waste every day. The proposed project aims to scientifically process the entire waste generated in the city and move towards achieving a ‘zero-garbage city’ status through decentralised and technology-driven waste management systems.The project proposes the installation of organic waste converters, material collection facilities, recycling and refuse-derived fuel (RDF) plants, sensor-based aerobic bins, automatic waste sorting systems and IT-enabled waste collection monitoring mechanisms. Road-cleaning and drain-maintenance machinery including suction and sweeping vehicles are also part of the proposal.A senior corporation official said the project would significantly strengthen the city’s existing decentralised waste management network. “The aim is not just waste disposal but converting waste into a resource through scientific processing and revenue generation. This will help improve sanitation standards and reduce the burden on the city’s current waste-handling system,” the official said.Officials said the project, inspired partly by Copenhagen’s circular economy-based waste management model, is expected to be completed in phases by 2027.
