Nagpur Holds 10th Spot Nationally in 2026 Clean-Air Survey Despite Score Dip
Nagpur maintained its 10th position nationally in the 5th Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026, though its overall score slightly decreased to 183.8 marks from 185 in 2025. Announced by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) on Swachh Vayu Diwas (September 7), the results place Nagpur third within Maharashtra.
The city’s four-year trajectory reflects steady overall progress: ranking 18th (166 marks) in 2023, 15th (169.6 marks) in 2024, and entering the top 10 in 2025.
Key Drivers of Performance
Fleet Electrification: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has converted most of its 700+ bus fleet to electric vehicles, leaving only 195 diesel buses operational.
Dust Control & Sanitation: Mechanized sweepers and over 5,000 sanitary workers manage the city’s 4,500-km road network.
Waste Management: On-going legacy waste processing, new Compressed Biogas (CBG) initiatives, and unpaved stretch paving have curtailed particulate matter.
Urban Greening & Tech: Expanded vertical gardens, green road dividers, and an Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) help limit vehicle idling.
Community Outreach: Collaborations with the Centre for Sustainable Development (CFSD) under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) reached 200,000 households and sensitized 3,000 sanitation workers against biomass burning.
Areas for Improvement
Unenforced construction and demolition (C&D) dust control remains the primary barrier to a higher rank. Environmentalists note that stricter monitoring of developers, excavation, and material transport is critical. Officials overseeing the NCAP implementation including Mayor Neeta Thakre and Municipal Commissioner Vipin Itankar—continue to push the city’s clean-air action plan forward to address these gaps.
Over the past four years, Nagpur’s performance in the national clean-air assessment has shown steady overall progress. In 2023, the city ranked 18th with a score of 166, before climbing to 15th place with 169.6 points in 2024. Nagpur broke into the top tier in 2025, securing the 10th spot with its highest score of 185. In 2026, the city successfully retained its 10th national ranking, though its overall score experienced a slight dip to 183.8 marks.
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