Six compactors of Kochi Corporation will be scrapped due to lack of spare parts

Kochi Corporation is set to scrap six of its 13 waste compactors used for waste transportation due to non-availability of hydraulic spare parts and lack of maintenance support.

The move reinforces the findings of the latest Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report regarding mismanagement of fleet by the civic body.

It was determined that these compactors would cost more to repair than their market value. Subsequently, certificates of wasteful repairs will be assessed and issued before the auction. They will have to be replaced with new ones to avoid disruption of waste movement.

The CAG’s report on local bodies for the period 2020-21 to 2022-23, tabled in the Kerala assembly earlier this year, said the company should have ensured availability of models and spare parts for at least 15 years. Prolonged idling has been cited as the main reason why vehicles have become inoperable before completing even ten years of use. The report also pointed to a delay of up to 10 years between the date the vehicles hit the ground and their eventual auction. Such delayed condemnation, it noted, led to deterioration in scrap value and compounded losses.

“We have decided to bring all our existing vehicles, including those purchased under Cochin Smart Mission Limited as well as new ones, under the annual maintenance contract system. This will make the concerned agency responsible for timely maintenance and availability of spare parts,” Mayor VK Minimol said.

Condemned compactors were rarely washed and often took six months to a year to be maintained by a Bengaluru-based agency. During this period they idled and developed more complaints, making any repairs more expensive than their market value.

In his report, the mechanical engineer of the corporation emphasized the need to purchase new compactors from authorized showrooms and ensure the availability of spare parts for compaction units. He also recommended shielding compactors from the rain to avoid frequent sensor and hydraulic system failures. The report suggests that the compactors were not permanently protected from rain, contributing to frequent sensor and hydraulic failures.

This was a recurring problem within the corporation, which was also saddled with 54 autorickshaws to move waste. These were procured from a company on the verge of closure and therefore spare parts were not available for their timely maintenance.

Published – 17 Jul 2026 21:36 IST