Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday welcomed the national recognition secured by Ahmedabad-Sanand, Surat and Vadodara in the Swachh Survekshan 2025-26.
He attributed the state’s progress in sanitation and urban cleanliness to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nationwide Swachhata initiative.
Patel observed that the cleanliness campaign had encouraged people throughout Gujarat to make hygiene and sanitation an integral part of their daily routines.
He said, “Cleanliness had become a way of life for people across the state under his (PM Modi’s) guidance”.
He also encouraged citizens and local administrations to sustain their collective efforts towards creating a cleaner and more developed Gujarat.
Ahmedabad-Sanand claimed the country’s top position in the Swachh Shehar Jodi category.
The recognition highlights cooperation between mentor and mentee cities, allowing urban administrations to exchange effective waste management and sanitation practices.
Surat finished second in the Super Swachh League category for urban centres with populations exceeding 10 lakh.
The city maintained its position among India’s leading clean cities for the second successive year. Navi Mumbai secured first place, while Vijayawada finished third.
Vadodara also earned distinction as Gujarat’s highest-ranked clean city.
President Droupadi Murmu distributed the national honours during a ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Gujarat Urban Development Minister Kanu Desai, Minister of State Darshana Vaghela and representatives of the respective municipal corporations accepted the awards.
The 2025-26 assessment represents the 10th edition of the annual cleanliness survey organised by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban.
The evaluation examines several indicators, including household waste segregation, garbage collection and transportation, solid waste disposal, public sanitation infrastructure, visible cleanliness and citizen participation.
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