In a significant move to enhance sanitation and urban cleanliness, the Dibrugarh Municipal Corporation (DMC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Northeast Frontier Railway’s (NFR) Tinsukia division. The agreement paves the way for door-to-door municipal solid waste (MSW) collection across 12 railway colonies in Dibrugarh, beginning mid-August.
The MoU, signed in the presence of DMC Commissioner Jay Vikas and Executive Officer Novas Das, aims to streamline waste collection and improve public hygiene for nearly 2,500 railway households—including 1,488 authorised and 1,027 unauthorised residences.
“This collaboration marks a crucial milestone in Dibrugarh’s journey toward sustainable waste management,” said Commissioner Vikas. “By extending services to railway colonies, we hope to foster a cleaner and healthier environment for all residents.”
The railway administration will contribute ₹200 per authorised household per month for the service. In return, DMC will be responsible for daily waste collection, transportation, and disposal. The agreement also includes optional desilting services for railway drains upon formal request, at standard rates.
The 12 colonies under the scheme include:
Naliapool Divisional Railway Hospital, Barbari, Kadamoni, Chowkidingee, Dibru, Mansarovar, Chiringaon, Kalibari, Gabharupathar, Bansbari, Banipur, and Naliapool Railway Colonies.
Railway authorities will also support resident awareness campaigns to promote segregation of wet and dry waste, while ensuring adherence to cleanliness norms.
The two-year agreement includes regular monitoring, billing mechanisms, and a grievance redressal system, but excludes hazardous and biomedical waste from DMC’s responsibilities.
Residents have largely welcomed the initiative. “Waste disposal has long been an issue here. This system will not only keep our colonies clean but also promote better habits like waste segregation,” said Parag Dutta, a resident of Dibrugarh.
Both DMC and NFR are optimistic that the initiative will serve as a model for collaborative urban waste management, benefiting both civic authorities and railway residents alike
