Alok Mishra / Suresh Pd Nikhar
Patna/Gaya: Bihar has made an impressive mark in Swachh Survekshan 2024, with its major cities achieving national recognition in the cleanliness rankings announced at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.
Patna secured the top spot in the state among cities with over 10 lakh population, ranking 21st nationally, and also became the first city in Bihar to receive ‘Water Plus’ certification. Gaya (Gayaji) emerged as the cleanest city in Bihar in the 3–10 lakh population category, securing 2nd place in the state and 27th rank nationwide. Both cities were awarded 3-star ratings under the Garbage-Free City (GFC) certification.
In a major milestone, Gaya became the only city in Bihar to be certified ODF Plus Plus (ODF++), while 100 cities across the state earned ODF Plus (ODF+) certification—a significant leap from 56 last year. Last year, no city from Bihar had received an ODF++ certificate.
President Droupadi Murmu felicitated the top-performing municipal bodies during the national event. The Patna Municipal Corporation received a Ministerial Award, with Urban Development Secretary Abhay Kumar Singh, Municipal Commissioner Animesh Parashar, Additional Secretary Vijay Prakash Meena, and sanitation workers Sulekha Devi and Manati Devi in attendance. Singh praised the achievements and vowed stronger efforts to make Bihar’s urban spaces cleaner and greener in Swachh Survekshan 2025.
Gaya Mayor Virendra Kumar alias Ganesh Paswan hailed the feat as a proud moment, crediting the relentless work of sanitation workers, officials, and citizens. “We aim for a top-10 national rank next year,” he said.
Echoing his views, Empowered Standing Committee Member Akhauri Omkar Nath alias Mohan Srivastava congratulated all stakeholders for placing Gaya firmly on the national cleanliness map.
Municipal Commissioner Kumar Anurag emphasized the importance of public support: “This achievement not only boosts Gaya’s reputation but also inspires citizens to actively participate in keeping the city clean. With continued cooperation, we can aim for a top-3 national position, like Chandigarh, Noida, and Ujjain.”
Gaya’s rise reflects sustained effort, innovative civic initiatives, and the growing impact of community-driven cleanliness. Patna too continued its upward journey, improving its position among 88 Ganga cities, jumping from 6th to 4th place this year.
Some banks and shopping complexes in Multai are operating without parking, and some people have provided very less parking space. Which is not sufficient for vehicle parking. Due to this, customers face a lot of difficulty in parking their vehicles. After all, how are banks operating without parking? This is a violation of rules. Traffic system gets affected by parking vehicles on the roadside. Many times accidents also occur. Vehicles are being parked on government land. Whereas the building in which the bank operates must have its own parking. The parking arrangements of all the banks operating in Multai should be investigated. Some basements have been built without permission. Maps of some commercial buildings have been passed without providing parking. Some people have made permanent encroachment on government land. There should be an investigation.
Ravi Khavse, Multai (Madhya Pradesh)