Vizag tops the national cleanliness assessment

Visakhapatnam has achieved the top national position in its population category in the Swachh Survekshan 2025–26, India's annual urban cleanliness assessment conducted by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) secured first place among cities with populations exceeding 10 lakh in the Swachh Shehar category. Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh secured second place, followed by Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh.

This recognition marks a significant achievement for Visakhapatnam in the national urban sanitation assessment.

Award presented by President Droupadi Murmu

GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg received the award from President Droupadi Murmu at the national award ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Wednesday, November 11. Andhra Pradesh Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister P. Narayana was also present.

According to reports, the Commissioner dedicated the recognition to the city's sanitation workers and residents, acknowledging their contribution to maintaining cleanliness across Visakhapatnam.

How cities were assessed

The 10th edition of Swachh Survekshan assessed urban local bodies across 43 indicators covering 10 major areas. These included waste segregation, collection and transportation, solid waste management, visible cleanliness, sanitation access, used water management, citizen feedback and the welfare of sanitation workers.

More than 3,000 trained assessors conducted on-ground evaluations, supported by GPS-enabled monitoring and digital verification.

The 2025–26 assessment covered 4,751 urban local bodies across the country, with approximately 2.70 crore citizens providing feedback.

Andhra Pradesh cities receive national recognition

Apart from Visakhapatnam's achievement, Vijayawada secured third place in the Super Swachh League category, behind Navi Mumbai and Surat.

The awards also recognised Tirupati and Kuppam among the top-performing city pairs under the newly introduced Swachh Shehar Jodi initiative, which encourages cities to share knowledge and improve sanitation practices.

A continuing responsibility for the city

The national recognition places Visakhapatnam among India's leading urban sanitation performers in its population category. Sustaining this position will depend on continued municipal services, responsible waste disposal, public participation and the contribution of sanitation workers.

The achievement also highlights the importance of residents participating in keeping neighbourhoods, roads, public spaces and coastal areas clean.