Patna: Patna has secured the 16th position among 48 cities with populations above 10 lakh in the Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2026, improving from its 27th position last year.
The city scored 178 points across 37 evaluation parameters, compared with 164.5 points in the previous survey.
The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) also secured two awards in the ward-level assessment, which was conducted for the first time under the survey. Wards 9 and 43 won a combined Rs 40 lakh in prize money.
The funds will be used for air pollution control, increasing greenery and other environmental improvement measures in the respective wards.
Wards 9 And 43 Secure State-Level Top Positions
Ward 43, under the Bankipur zone, secured first position at the state level in Category 1, which covered wards with populations above 30,000.
The ward received Rs 25 lakh. According to the PMC, the funds will be used for measures to reduce air pollution in areas including Rajendra Nagar, Mahmoodi Chak, Maila Tanki Road, Arya Kumar Road and Pataliputra Path.
Ward 9, under the Patliputra zone, topped the state-level ranking in Category 2, covering wards with populations between 10,000 and 30,000. It also figured among the top nine wards nationally.
The ward received Rs 15 lakh, which will be used for pollution-control measures in areas including Airport, Rajvanshi Nagar, Harding Road and Kaushal Nagar.
Category 3 covered wards with populations below 10,000. The PMC said all its wards have populations above the limit for this category.
Assessment Covers Environmental Measures
The ward-level assessment covered wards from 23 states and Union Territories and examined their performance on parameters linked to air quality and environmental management.
The criteria included plantation and greenery drives, roadside tree planting, regular waste collection, road infrastructure, mechanical sweeping of major roads, construction and demolition waste management, sanitation and public awareness initiatives.
The PMC attributed the performance of Wards 9 and 43 to their work across these areas.
PMC Sets Focus On Cleaner Air
PMC Mayor Sita Sahu said the city’s performance reflected continued efforts towards creating a cleaner and greener Patna.
She said the prize money would be used for environmental improvement and air pollution control activities in the two wards, with the aim of benefiting residents directly.
Municipal Commissioner Yashpal Meena said the civic body had undertaken measures including roadside plantation, waste management, scientific management of construction and demolition waste, improved road cleaning and public awareness campaigns.
“Our goal is not merely to perform well in surveys, but to provide the citizens of Patna with a city that boasts clean, healthy air and superior air quality,” Meena said.
The PMC said it would continue its efforts to control air pollution and improve environmental conditions across the city.
