Navi Mumbai Joins India's Elite 'Super Swachh League' In Swachh Survekshan 2024, Sets National Benchmark In Urban Cleanliness

Navi Mumbai has earned a prestigious spot in the newly introduced ‘Super Swachh League’ of the Swachh Survekshan 2024, ranking it above the standard city cleanliness ratings. Among Indian cities with a population exceeding 10 lakh, it is the only city from Maharashtra to be included in this elite category, recognizing consistent cleanliness performance over the past three years.

The recognition was conferred by President Droupadi Murmu at a national award ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The award was accepted by Navi Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde and State Minister for Urban Development Madhuri Misal, in the presence of Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Minister of State Tokhan Sahu, and Secretary Srinivas Kirikithala were also present.

 Dr Shinde believed that innovation and sustainability is the core reason of Navi Mumbai’s Cleanliness Success. "Navi Mumbai has maintained its 7-Star Garbage-Free City status and its Water Plus Certification, even as it moved beyond traditional rankings. The city achieved a benchmark score above 85% to qualify for the Super Swachh League and implemented a number of innovative projects to achieve this goal," he said.

The city uses modern waste segregation systems, collecting wet, dry, domestic hazardous, and now sanitary waste separately. A 206-vehicle fleet including electric trucks, mini-tippers, and compactors is deployed for collection and is tracked in real-time using RFID-enabled GPS systems. The city has also activated mechanical street sweeping vehicles, of which five are environmentally friendly.

In addition, 10 electric vehicles acquired through the United Nations Development Programme are operated by women waste-pickers from the Parisar Sakhi initiative.

Speaking about the smart command systems and landmark wasste projects, Dr Shinde said, "Cleanliness operations are centrally monitored through the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), located at the NMMC headquarters. The system integrates vehicle GPS data, CCTV footage, and citizen feedback, enabling real-time analytics to ensure service compliance, route optimization, and faster redressal of complaints."

A landmark project by NMMC is the launch of India’s first Textile Recovery Facility (TRF), developed in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Textiles, for recycling garment waste.

The city has also operationalized a 150-tonne-per-day Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste processing plant, which produces paver blocks using 85% recycled materials.

Efficient organic and dry waste management is another reason believed to have added to the city's success. Of the 750 tonnes of daily municipal waste, approximately 350 tonnes of wet waste is processed into compost. The remaining 400 tonnes of dry waste is sorted into plastic, glass, metal, cloth, and paper. Plastic is further converted into RDF (Refuse-Derived Fuel) used by cement industries and plastic granules used in road construction.

The city also operates a 10-tonne-per-day coconut waste processing plant, where the fiber is extracted and used for producing coir-based products.

The Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) facility at the landfill treats leachate (wastewater from garbage), which is then reused for watering on-site plantations, creating a nearly zero-waste ecosystem.

Navi Mumbai is also promoting on-site waste disposal by encouraging societies, hotels, and institutions generating more than 100 kg wet waste daily to set up their own composting or biogas units. Currently, 38 such decentralized units are operational.

NMMC has also introduced zero waste slums and social empowerment in the city. In a pioneering move, NMMC has implemented the zero waste slum model, where women waste-pickers are organized through Parisar Sakhi into teams covering up to 250 households. This has provided them sustainable employment and improved their standard of living and access to education for their children.

Emphasising on advanced sewage treatment and water reuse, a spokesperson from NMMC said that Navi Mumbai has 99.9% sewage network coverage, with only 42 septic tanks that are cleaned regularly using mechanized systems. The city treats 100% of its 235 MLD sewage using advanced SBR and C-Tech technologies, with over 30% of treated water reused for gardening, flushing, and construction.

The city has three tertiary treatment plants (TTPs) with a total capacity of 45 MLD, and a new 7.5 MLD plant at Belapur has been established. An MoU with MIDC ensures supply of recycled water to 54 industrial units.

Operations and maintenance are tracked using KPI-based systems, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and timely grievance redressal.

Citizen-driven cleanliness campaigns across the city is cited to be another reason for the recognition. Navi Mumbai’s sanitation drive saw widespread citizen participation through various initiatives which includes public clean-up drives held along highways, APMC market, and railway stations, with participation from self-help groups, senior citizens, women, and trans persons. The NSS and NCC students, as well as civic groups like Shri Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Pratishthan, played key roles.

Mangrove cleanup campaigns were conducted every Sunday by volunteers of Mangroves Clean Marshals.

The "Swachhata Hi Seva" campaign mobilized thousands of youth, reinforcing cleanliness as a social movement.

Community events and awareness drives were conducted as part of the ‘SAB-B (Safai Apnao Bimari Bhagao)’ campaign, launched on Doctors' Day, several health awareness and sanitation activities were conducted across the eight wards. Over 14,000 students participated in a Facebook Live session with pediatricians, and a “Run With Doctors” half-marathon promoted hygiene and wellness.

During World Environment Day, the ‘Gutli Returns’ campaign collected over 53,000 mango seeds, which were planted for urban greening, with support from Red FM and RJ Malishka.

NMMC also involved students in several creative formats. A ‘Clean Voting’ activity engaged over 21,000 students who voted for the best cleanliness ideas in their schools. The ‘Swachhata Dindi’ initiative combined the traditional Wari-style march with cleanliness awareness, with participation from 91 schools, was also a part of the cultural activity initiated by the corporation.

Ujjain Bags First Prize In Super Swachhta League 2024; President Honours City Leaders In Delhi

A unique Swachhata Chess Model taught students about waste segregation through chessboard simulations.

NMMC also enrolled sanitation workers in PMJJBY, PMSBY, Ayushman Bharat, and MPJAY schemes and conducts free medical checkups at municipal hospitals. A special play titled “Andhe Jahan ke Andhe Raste”, based on their lives, was staged exclusively for them at Vishnudas Bhave Auditorium.

To promote transparency and public engagement, the NMMC also launched an online Swachhata e-Bulletin, showcasing best practices, success stories, and citizen contributions to drive behavioral change.

"Navi Mumbai’s inclusion in the Super Swachh League stands as a testament to the city's innovative, inclusive, and sustainable approach to urban sanitation," said Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde who extended congratulations to every resident and credited the achievement to the collective effort of citizens, staff, elected leaders, and volunteers, affirming that Navi Mumbai has set a national benchmark for cleanliness and civic pride.