Bhubaneswar cleanliness rank: Odisha CM Majhi urges citizens to aim for No. 1
Synopsis
Bhubaneswar sits ninth on India's cleanliness index — and Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi wants it at the top. At a 'Swachhata Hi Seva' drive at Khandagiri, he called on every citizen to own the effort, even as the city earns a spot among 50 designated Model Sanitation Cities nationwide.
Key Takeaways
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi participated in the 'Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath' cleanliness programme at Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar on 1 October 2026 .
Bhubaneswar currently ranks ninth in India's national cleanliness index.
Both Bhubaneswar and Puri have been selected among 50 cities to be developed as 'Model Sanitation Cities' .
The CM urged citizens to segregate waste, avoid littering, and cooperate with Safai Mitras .
The state government pledged social security and housing support for Safai Mitras .
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday, 1 October 2026, called on residents of Bhubaneswar to take personal responsibility for cleanliness, asserting that the state capital — currently ranked ninth in the national cleanliness index — has the potential to become the country's cleanest and most beautiful city.
What the CM Said
Speaking at the 'Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath' cleanliness drive held at Khandagiri under the 'Swachhata Hi Seva' campaign organised by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), Majhi said: 'This city belongs to all of us, and the responsibility for keeping it clean also rests with all of us. At present, Bhubaneswar ranks ninth in the country's cleanliness ranking. If we all individually discharge our responsibilities properly, our city can become the cleanest and most beautiful city in the country and secure the first position.'
The Chief Minister urged citizens to extend cleanliness habits beyond their homes to the roads in front of their houses and their colonies. He also advised residents to segregate wet and dry waste at source and hand it over regularly to sanitation vehicles, and to refrain from littering on public roads.
Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign Context
Majhi credited Mahatma Gandhi's foundational emphasis on cleanliness and noted that since 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had transformed that vision into a broad-based mass movement through the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign. He described the 'Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath' format as an innovative approach to mainstreaming community participation in sanitation.
Recognition for Bhubaneswar and Puri
The Chief Minister also congratulated the BMC, Puri municipal authorities, and Safai Mitras after both Bhubaneswar and Puri were selected among 50 cities nationwide to be developed as 'Model Sanitation Cities'. He credited Safai Mitras — frontline sanitation workers — for the city's improved cleanliness profile and affirmed that the state government was committed to their social security and housing.
Officials Present
Odisha Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh, and BMC Mayor Sulochana Das were among the dignitaries who attended the event.
With Bhubaneswar now among India's designated Model Sanitation Cities, the pressure is on both civic authorities and residents to translate the campaign's momentum into a sustained improvement in national rankings.
Point of View
But the harder question is whether the BMC has the enforcement muscle and infrastructure, particularly waste-segregation logistics, to bridge the gap to the top. Campaigns built on voluntary compliance have historically plateaued without binding accountability mechanisms. Whether this initiative goes beyond a one-day optic will depend on whether the state follows through on its Safai Mitra welfare commitments and links civic performance to measurable cleanliness outcomes.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bhubaneswar's current national cleanliness ranking?
Bhubaneswar currently ranks ninth in India's national cleanliness index, according to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. He made the statement at the 'Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath' event on 1 October 2026, urging citizens to push the city to the top position.
What is the 'Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath' programme?
It is a community cleanliness initiative held under the 'Swachhata Hi Seva' campaign, organised by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation. The programme encourages citizens to collectively dedicate one day, one hour, and one joint effort to clean their surroundings.
What is a 'Model Sanitation City' and why does it matter for Bhubaneswar?
A Model Sanitation City is a designation given to cities selected for focused development of sanitation infrastructure and practices nationwide. Bhubaneswar and Puri are among 50 cities chosen for this status, which comes with both additional resources and heightened accountability for cleanliness outcomes.
What did Odisha CM Majhi ask citizens to do specifically?
CM Majhi asked citizens to segregate wet and dry waste at home, hand it over regularly to sanitation vehicles, avoid littering on roads, and discourage others from doing so. He also urged residents to extend cleanliness from their homes to the roads and colonies around them.
Who are Safai Mitras and what did the CM promise them?
Safai Mitras are frontline sanitation workers credited with improving Bhubaneswar's cleanliness. CM Majhi thanked them for their service and stated that the state government was committed to ensuring their social security and providing them with housing.
