Chhattisgarh Makes Major Leap in Urban Cleanliness: 115 out of 169 Cities Improve Their Rankings in National Cleanliness Survey

Raipur : Chhattisgarh has once again demonstrated its strong presence on the national stage through its outstanding performance in the Swachh Survekshan 2024–25, conducted by the Government of India. Out of 169 urban bodies from the state that participated in the survey, 115 cities improved their rankings, marking a significant advancement in urban cleanliness efforts.

Among 4,566 cities surveyed nationwide, 25 cities from Chhattisgarh secured positions in the Top 100, a remarkable jump from last year’s 16 cities. This achievement reflects the focused and sustained efforts by the state government and local urban bodies.

In the Garbage-Free City Star Rating, 62 urban bodies improved their ratings, while the number of cities rated Single, Three, or Five-Star rose from 71 to 114. Notably, the state capital Raipur moved from a Five-Star rating to the prestigious Seven-Star category, also earning Water Plus certification, marking it as one of the cleanest and most sustainable cities in the country.

Furthermore, Bilaspur, Korba, and Bhilai Nagar municipal corporations have advanced from ODF Plus Plus to the more advanced Water Plus category. Overall, 163 urban local bodies across Chhattisgarh are now certified as ODF Plus Plus, including towns like Kirandul, Bhatapara, and Kura, which were previously categorized only as ODF.

Sitapur Nagar Panchayat also progressed from ODF Plus to ODF Plus Plus status. Over the past 18 months, 62 urban bodies have successfully enhanced their Garbage-Free ratings. Bilaspur and Ambikapur advanced from Three-Star to Five-Star, while Bhilai Nagar, Jagdalpur, Jamul, and Gharghoda upgraded from Single-Star to Three-Star. Towns like Dhamtari, Shivrinarayan, and Rajpur, which were previously unrated, have now entered the Three-Star category directly.

Additionally, 52 urban local bodies improved from Zero-Star to Single-Star, showcasing consistent efforts in cleanliness and beautification.

Several cities have shown dramatic improvements in their national rankings:

• Simga moved from 649th to 95th
• Jashpur: 637th to 91st
• Rajpur: 630th to 63rd
• Gharghoda: 616th to 71st
• Bhilai-Charoda: 587th to 68th
• Dornapal: 557th to 81st
• Dantewada: 552nd to 70th
• Jagdalpur: 461st to 55th
• Mungeli: 447th to 86th
• Kawardha: 430th to 77th
• Kunkuri: 426th to 84th
• Durg: 314th to 80th
• Rajnandgaon: 268th to 46th
• Bhilai Nagar: 267th to 22nd
• Chhura: 230th to 76th
• Pratappur: 173rd to 62nd
• Balrampur: 65th to 53rd
• Raipur: 12th to 4th

Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai praised the achievement, calling it a result of the collective efforts of local bodies and citizens. He emphasized that urban local governments, in coordination with the state and central governments, are working tirelessly with innovative methods to make cities clean and beautiful. He expressed confidence that Chhattisgarh’s cities will continue to climb in the rankings in the future.

Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Urban Administration and Development Arun Sao commended the top-performing urban bodies, noting that the state government had allocated ₹7,400 crore for urban development and cleanliness in FY 2024–25, the results of which are now evident. He added that all municipal commissioners and chief officers were instructed to conduct daily morning inspections to monitor cleanliness work.

According to Mr. Sao, these two initiatives—massive budgetary allocation and daily monitoring—played a crucial role in the state’s exceptional performance.