Keeping the heart of the national Capital clean, where thousands of tourists, office-goers and shoppers crowd public spaces every day, has earned the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) the second position in the Swachh Survekshan 2025-26 rankings among cities with populations between 50,000 and three lakh.
President Droupadi Murmu presented the award to NDMC Chairman Manoj Kumar Dwivedi and Vice-Chairman Kuljit Singh Chahal at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan on Wednesday. The civic body secured second place in the ‘Swachh Shehar’ category, adding another national recognition to its record in urban sanitation.
The ranking comes as NDMC continues to expand mechanised cleaning, night sanitation operations and scientific waste management across its jurisdiction, which includes some of Delhi’s busiest public spaces. From Connaught Place and India Gate to Kartavya Path, Janpath, Khan Market and Sarojini Nagar, the council maintains cleanliness in areas that see heavy daily footfall. Its jurisdiction also includes major Government offices, diplomatic missions, heritage sites and commercial centres. According to NDMC, keeping these areas clean throughout the day requires continuous sanitation operations, particularly at locations frequented by large numbers of visitors.
The council has deployed 11 mechanical road sweepers, 20 gobbler machines and specialised jetting equipment to strengthen cleaning operations.
Footpaths and public spaces are cleaned with pressure-jet machines early in the morning, while dedicated teams carry out night-cleaning operations. NDMC also processes about 300 tonnes of municipal solid waste every day, against a processing capacity of 509 tonnes. Eight micro-material recovery facilities and a network of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle centres support waste recovery and recycling.
Under its ‘Anupam Colonies’ initiative, nine residential colonies have been covered by measures encouraging households to segregate waste, process biodegradable material locally and participate in recycling activities. The council has also introduced a monitoring system under which 14 heads of departments serve as circle nodal officers. They are responsible for field inspections and coordinating action on civic deficiencies.
Three dedicated sanitation squads have been deployed, while a separate monitoring programme covers 346 public toilets across NDMC areas. Residents can report sanitation-related complaints through the NDMC 311 mobile application or the toll-free helpline 1533. The council is also running cleanliness awareness campaigns and initiatives to keep markets free of litter.
NDMC Chairman Manoj Kumar Dwivedi said the council’s objective extended beyond securing higher rankings. The priority, he said, was to provide residents and visitors with a cleaner and healthier urban environment.
Vice-Chairman Kuljit Singh Chahal attributed the recognition to mechanisation, improved management, public participation and the work of sanitation employees.