Uttar Pradesh’s Progress in Urban Sanitation
Uttar Pradesh has made remarkable progress in urban sanitation, as highlighted by the results of the Swachh Survekshan 2024 rankings. The state has shown a significant improvement compared to its performance in the previous year, marking a turning point in its efforts towards cleanliness and waste management.
For the first time, the state capital, Lucknow, has been awarded the prestigious 7-Star Garbage-Free City certification. This achievement underscores the city’s commitment to maintaining high standards of cleanliness and efficient waste management practices.
The number of Garbage-Free Cities (GFCs) in Uttar Pradesh has increased from 65 in 2023 to 83 in 2024. Similarly, the number of cities certified as ODF ++ (Open Defecation Free Plus Plus) has surged from 129 to 337. Another notable category, Water+, which recognizes cities for their efficient water reuse and conservation efforts, has also seen growth. In 2023, only two cities—Prayagraj and Noida—were recognized, but this number has risen to 16 in 2024, with Noida again being included.
The quality of GFC certifications has also improved significantly. In 2023, there were no 7-Star cities in Uttar Pradesh. However, in 2024, Lucknow has achieved this top rating. The number of 5-Star cities has increased from one to six, with Agra, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Ghaziabad, Prayagraj, and Noida receiving the honor. Additionally, there are now six 3-Star cities—Ayodhya, Firozabad, Jhansi, Mathura, Moradabad, and Varanasi—while the number of 1-Star cities has grown from 56 to 70.
Anuj Jha, the State Mission Director of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), attributed this success to strong institutional mechanisms, public participation, and the dedicated efforts of municipal staff. He emphasized that the achievements belong to every sanitation worker, municipal officer, and citizen who took ownership of their city’s cleanliness. “Uttar Pradesh has shown that with the right leadership, accountability, and public participation, transformation is not just possible—it is inevitable,” he stated.
Jha also noted that Uttar Pradesh’s performance in the Swachh Survekshan 2024 has surpassed several traditionally better-ranked states. “Uttar Pradesh has shown improvement far more significant than many states, including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat. The scale and speed of transformation in our cities reflect the seriousness with which urban cleanliness has been pursued at every level,” he said.
Among million-plus population cities, Lucknow was ranked in the Top 3 nationwide, while Agra secured a place in the Top 10. Ghaziabad, Prayagraj, Kanpur, and Varanasi also made it to the Top 20, showcasing the growing sanitation efforts in large urban centers.
Cities with populations between three to ten lakh also posted encouraging results. Gorakhpur was ranked in the Top 5 nationally in its category, with Moradabad in the Top 10. Saharanpur, Firozabad, Mathura, Jhansi, and Bareilly were among the Top 20 in this group.
However, the performance of smaller urban local bodies (ULBs) remained weak. In the 50,000 to three lakh population category, only Bijnor (ranked 29) and Modinagar (ranked 34) featured in the Top 50. In the 20,000 to 50,000 category, Anupshehar was ranked 13th and Sidhauli also found a place in the Top 30. No city from Uttar Pradesh made it to the Top 100 in the below-20,000 population category.
Acknowledging the gap in performance among smaller towns, Anuj Jha said, “While our large and mid-sized cities are showing impressive results, we recognize that smaller towns need focused handholding, infrastructure investment, and capacity building. That is where our next mission effort will be concentrated.”
With Lucknow’s 7-star certification setting the pace, Uttar Pradesh is preparing to scale up its sanitation drive, ensuring that smaller towns also rise in the national cleanliness rankings in the years to come.
