Mumbai, July 17, 2025 – Mumbai, India’s financial capital, has performed poorly in the latest Swachh Survekshan 2024–25. It ranked 33rd out of 40 among cities with populations over 10 lakh.

Despite managing a ₹74,000 crore budget, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has yet to deliver significant improvements in sanitation outcomes. As a result, the civic body has drawn sharp criticism from citizens, civic activists, and urban policy experts.

Furthermore, many have questioned the city’s long-standing inefficiencies in waste management. Meanwhile, Mira-Bhayandar has outperformed Mumbai, securing the top cleanliness rank in the 3–10 lakh population category. In addition, Navi Mumbai retained its high rank by finishing third nationwide among large cities.

Notably, Navi Mumbai also became the only city in Maharashtra to be listed in the “Super Swachh League” for consistent sanitation performance. Overall, the Swachh Survekshan results serve as a wake-up call, urging Mumbai authorities to reassess their approach and accelerate reform efforts.

The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs conducted the survey. Mumbai failed to earn a single star in the Garbage-Free Cities rating, raising serious concerns about its waste management. Door-to-door garbage collection dropped from 97% in 2023 to just 40%.waste segregation at the source declined to just 31%, underscoring weak enforcement of solid waste management systems.

Mira-Bhayandar emerged as Maharashtra’s cleanest city in the 3–10 lakh population category, demonstrating strong local governance and effective sanitation practices. It is the only city in Maharashtra to enter the prestigious “Super Swachh League”, which honors sustained cleanliness.

BMC officials blamed the poor score on legacy waste dumping grounds in Deonar and Mulund. These sites have stored untreated garbage for decades. The BMC said it is implementing waste-to-energy and biomining projects to resolve the issue.

Civic experts and citizens expressed disappointment. They questioned how a city with such resources could lag behind in cleanliness. Many have called for greater accountability and urgent reform in sanitation systems.

The Swachh Survekshan, conducted annually as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission, aims to promote hygiene and urban cleanliness across India. Mumbai’s low rank is a wake-up call for authorities to act quickly and improve urban sanitation.

Sources