India, July 13 -- Privatising garbage collection and transportation is expected to save money for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), rather than cost more, according to the state urban development department (UDD), which oversees the civic body.

The state legislative council was told on Friday that privatisation would save around Rs.160 crore a year, as the expenditure on per tonne collection and transportation would decrease.

The BMC has floated a Rs.4,000-crore tender to privatise garbage collection and transportation, a service that has until now been provided by permanent as well as contractual employees of the civic body. At present, there are 25,385 employees providing the service, and employees' unions are concerned th...