Vasu Potnuru Visakhapatnam

Ina historic achievement, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) secured the first rank in the ‘Swachh Shehar’ category under the national Swachh Survekshan 2025–26, among cities with a population of over 10 lakh. This is the first time in Visakhapatnam’s history that the city has secured the No. 1 position nationally in the prestigious category, bringing immense pride and recognition to the City of Destiny.

Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development P Narayana, GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg received the prestigious award from the President of India Droupadi Murmu at the national award presentation ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Principal Secretary S Suresh Kumar, and Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration P Sampath Kumar were also present on the occasion.

Expressing happiness over the landmark achievement, Ketan Garg described the recognition as a moment of immense pride for Visakhapatnam. He said the national award was not merely an institutional accomplishment for GVMC but a collective victory of the entire city.

The Commissioner attributed the success to the sustained efforts and cooperation of citizens, public representatives, voluntary organisations, sanitation workers and GVMC officials and employees.

The Commissioner lauded the sanitation workers for their tireless services in maintaining the city’s cleanliness, working round the clock despite challenging weather conditions. He observed that their dedication, combined with active public participation and civic responsibility, played a crucial role in securing the prestigious national recognition.

In a special gesture, Ketan Garg dedicated the award to the sanitation workers for their unwavering commitment and to the people of Visakhapatnam for their continuous support in keeping the city clean and healthy.

He expressed gratitude to district collector and GVMC Special Officer M Abhishikth Kishore for his constant guidance, valuable suggestions and support to the municipal administration in its efforts to secure the top national position.

Emphasising the importance of sustaining the achievement, the Commissioner mentioned that cleanliness should not be viewed merely as a responsibility of the municipal administration but as a continuous social commitment requiring active participation from every citizen.

The historic recognition has placed Visakhapatnam firmly on the national cleanliness map, setting a new benchmark for urban sanitation, environmental sustainability and citizen-led civic responsibility.