Amritsar, November 6 : Amritsar’s Midnight Clean-Up: Commissioner Bikram Shergill Leads the City’s Revival: Once known for its unmatched spiritual glow, Amritsar in recent months has faced an uncomfortable truth about uncollected garbage, choked drains, and a failing sanitation system. Streets that lead lakhs of devotees daily to the Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) were being shadowed by piles of unattended waste, prompting harsh media criticism and growing public resentment.

But a new chapter seems to be unfolding since the arrival of new Municipal Commissioner, Sri Amritsar Bikram Shergill, IAS whose proactive approach has begun to turn words into visible action.

The new commissioner, who took charge recently, has launched a war-footing cleanliness drive that has visibly changed the mood of the city’s Municipal Corporation. Late-night sweeping operations, waste segregation initiatives, and strict monitoring of cleaning staff have turned into a daily routine. What once seemed neglected corners of the city from Rialto Chowk to Kot Atma Singh and INA Colony now witness cleaning teams at work even past 11 PM.

The human touch behind this transformation lies in the renewed sense of dignity being restored to sanitation workers. “We are being heard and respected again,” shared a worker near Hall Bazaar, collecting heaps of garbage under a dim streetlight. “The Commissioner himself visits at night to see how we work. It makes us feel like our effort matters.”

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The Background: Years of Neglect

For years, Amritsar Municipal Corporation (AMC) struggled with overflowing bins, poor waste disposal, and growing pressure from the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The city’s sole private operator, Averda, had been handling door-to-door collection, waste processing, and disposal. However, investigations found the firm had failed to meet several contractual commitments, particularly in waste processing and the bio-remediation of legacy dumps.

In August 2024, the AMC passed a formal resolution to review Averda’s performance, leading to a major policy shift moving away from a single-vendor model that had proven inefficient.

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The Tender and New Contract Structure

In March 2025, the AMC floated fresh tenders to bring in three specialized firms one each for garbage collection, bio-remediation, and the setting up of a waste-to-energy (WTE) plant. This breakup aimed to ensure accountability and competition.

Following evaluation, a firm named Triple R was awarded the contract for garbage collection across all 85 wards. The company is expected to start full-scale operations by December 2025, after installing new infrastructure such as mini-tippers, smart carts, and GPS-enabled vehicles. Until then, Averda continues under a six-month extension to prevent service disruption.

Meanwhile, the Bhagtanwala legacy waste dump, holding nearly 11 lakh tonnes of accumulated garbage, has been handed over to Ecosteen under a ₹36.54-crore contract. The firm is tasked with processing about 3,333 tonnes per day over the next 15 months, marking one of Punjab’s biggest bioremediation efforts.

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Night Inspections and Hands-On Leadership

Even amid this transition, the Commissioner’s leadership has stood out. Shergill personally inspects night shifts, interacts with field staff, and ensures that photo-based daily reporting and vehicle GPS tracking remain consistent. His emphasis is clear “Cleanliness isn’t an event; it’s a habit.”

This hands on style has not only motivated workers but also re-energized the municipal staff long demoralized by years of administrative stagnation.

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Looking Ahead

With Punjab’s Urban Development Department extending support and funding for waste management modernization, Amritsar could see full stabilization of door-to-door collection, functioning waste-to-energy systems, and complete legacy waste clearing within 12 to 18 months.

For a city that attracts nearly 3.8 crore domestic tourists annually, these efforts mark more than an administrative correction, they signify a moral and civic revival.

At 11 PM, as sanitation workers sweep narrow market lanes under flickering lights, Amritsar’s spirit seems to echo the Commissioner’s resolve that the Holy City must shine again, not just in faith, but in cleanliness and pride.

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