The city of Patna is gearing up for a crucial national evaluation, as it prepares to participate in the 10th edition of the Swachh Survekshan (Cleanliness Survey) for 2025. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) officially announced this year's campaign theme, "Swachhata Ki Nayi Pahal—Badhayein Haath, Karein Safai Saath," setting the stage for urban centers across India to showcase their sanitation progress.
Patna's Ambitious Goals and Preparedness
Following the national announcement, Patna's municipal leadership expressed strong confidence. Sita Sahu, the Mayor of Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC), stated that the city is fully prepared for the rigorous assessment. She emphasized that special attention is being directed towards enhancing door-to-door garbage collection and overall waste management systems. As part of this drive, the PMC is increasing the fleet of waste collection vehicles to improve efficiency and coverage.
Mayor Sahu outlined a clear and ambitious target for this year's survey: to achieve a 5-star 'Garbage Free City' rating and secure a position within the Top 10 clean cities in the country. This goal represents a significant leap from the city's 2024 performance, where it ranked 21st among 44 cities with a population exceeding 10 lakh. Currently, Patna holds a 3-star rating, but the administration has already cleared 650 Garbage Vulnerable Points (GVPs) and formally applied for the upgraded 5-star status.
Key Changes in the 2025 Survey Framework
The Swachh Survekshan 2025 introduces several important modifications to the evaluation process, with a total score of 12,500 marks distributed across 10 major sections and more than 160 sub-indicators. The focus remains sharply on visual cleanliness, scientific waste management, and the welfare of sanitation workers.
A major shift this year is the doubled weightage for citizen feedback and grievance redressal, now worth 1,000 marks instead of 500. This change underscores the government's emphasis on public participation and accountability. Furthermore, the cleanliness of Patna's iconic Ganga ghats and its bustling high-traffic market zones will come under special scrutiny, directly impacting the city's final score.
To ensure authenticity, the survey framework includes strict penalties for municipal bodies that provide inflated claims or incorrect data. Any discrepancies found will lead to automatic mark deductions, promoting transparency.
Grassroots Initiatives and Public Engagement
Beyond infrastructure, the PMC is launching targeted outreach programs to sensitize citizens against littering. A unique initiative will identify habitual litterers as "Sadak Shatru" (Enemy of the Road), while simultaneously encouraging residents to take public oaths for maintaining urban hygiene. This two-pronged approach aims to foster a sense of collective responsibility and shame around unclean habits.
The success of Patna's campaign hinges on this partnership between the municipal corporation and its citizens. With a revised scoring system that values public opinion, and a clear administrative focus on critical areas like the ghats and markets, Patna's journey towards the Top 10 in Swachh Survekshan 2025 has begun in earnest.
