The city of Lucknow has earned the third rank among India’s cleanest cities in the million-plus population category under the Swachh Shahar Awards 2024-25, part of the nationwide Swachh Survekshan cleanliness survey conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
President Droupadi Murmu presented the award to Uttar Pradesh urban development minister A.K. Sharma and Lucknow mayor Sushma Kharakwal at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, on Thursday. Other key civic leaders present included former municipal commissioner Inderjeet Singh, current commissioner Gaurav Kumar, and additional commissioner Arvind Kumar Rao.
Lucknow ranked behind Ahmedabad and Bhopal, which secured the first and second positions respectively. The recognition marks a milestone in the city’s journey toward urban hygiene and effective solid waste management.
According to the assessment, Lucknow scored 12,001 out of a possible 12,500, with high marks in citizen feedback, on-ground cleanliness, and public participation.
Despite this success, civic challenges remain. Residents continue to report issues such as:
- Open dumping of garbage in public areas
- Irregular door-to-door waste collection
- Malfunctioning or missing streetlights
- Delayed response to civic complaints
These persistent problems have prompted calls for stronger accountability and deeper reforms within the Lucknow Municipal Corporation. Experts say that maintaining a top-tier ranking will require sustained citizen engagement, better complaint redressal mechanisms, and robust infrastructure support.
Still, the award signals a clear step forward for Lucknow in aligning with national cleanliness and sustainability benchmarks.