Sabarmati clean-up drive: Ahmedabad launches 4-day campaign from June 2
Synopsis
Ahmedabad's civic bodies are sending teams across both banks of the Sabarmati for four consecutive days starting 2 June — clearing plastic, vegetation, and waste before the state releases monsoon water into the river. The drive wraps up on World Environment Day, and Mayor Hitesh Barot is calling on NGOs and citizens to join in.
Key Takeaways
AMC and SRFDCL will jointly run a 4-day Sabarmati clean-up from 2 to 5 June .
The drive targets waste, plastic, wild vegetation, and obstructions across both banks of the Sabarmati riverbed and riverfront.
The campaign concludes on World Environment Day (5 June) , covering Atal Ghat between Nehru Bridge and Ellis Bridge on the final day.
Mayor Hitesh Barot has appealed to NGOs and citizens to actively participate in the drive.
The clean-up is timed ahead of the state irrigation department's annual pre-monsoon water release into the river.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (SRFDCL) will jointly conduct a large-scale cleanliness drive across the Sabarmati riverbed and riverfront from 2 to 5 June, ahead of the annual pre-monsoon water release into the river. The four-day campaign, timed to conclude on World Environment Day, will target waste, plastic, wild vegetation, and other obstructions along both banks of the river in Ahmedabad.
Why the Drive Is Being Launched
Every year, the state government's irrigation department releases water into the Sabarmati before the monsoon season begins. Civic authorities have planned this special campaign to ensure the riverbed and adjoining riverfront stretches are fully cleared before that process gets under way. AMC said the initiative prioritises urban cleanliness, river conservation, and environmental protection — underscoring the Sabarmati riverfront's status as one of the city's most prominent public landmarks.
Day-by-Day Schedule
On 2 June, cleaning teams will operate on the western bank at the ghat behind Gandhi Ashram and the area below Ashram Road, while the eastern bank campaign will cover Sample Stage Ghat and the stretch descending from Subhash Bridge Garden towards Stairway No. 8.
On 3 June, work on the western side will focus on Ghat No. 4, the area near Stairway No. 23, and the stretch behind the Wadaj toilet block. Simultaneously, eastern bank operations will cover Ghat No. 5 near Dadhichi Bridge, the staircase near Subhash Bridge Garden Gate No. 3, and the access route to the lower promenade near the police station.
On 4 June, western bank teams will clean around Ghat No. 5 and the lower promenade via Stairway No. 26 from Usmanpura Garden. Eastern bank operations will target Ghat No. 7 and the lower promenade stretch through Ramp No. 16 opposite Master Colony.
The final day, 5 June, will see western bank work around Ghat No. 6 and the lower promenade via Stairway No. 31 at Vallabhsadan Ground. On the eastern bank, the drive will cover Atal Ghat (Ghat No. 11), situated between Nehru Bridge and Ellis Bridge, including its lower promenade stretch.
Call for Public Participation
Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot appealed directly to residents and civil society: 'I appeal to the city's various social, environmental and voluntary organisations (NGOs), as well as aware citizens, to actively join this special cleanliness campaign.' AMC confirmed that inter-departmental planning and coordination have been completed to support the drive's execution.
Broader Significance
The Sabarmati riverfront, developed over years as a flagship urban infrastructure project, draws significant footfall and serves as a key recreational and ecological corridor through the city. Seasonal accumulation of plastic waste and vegetation on the riverbed poses both flooding and environmental risks once monsoon flows begin. This pre-monsoon clean-up is now an established annual exercise, though the four-day scale and World Environment Day timing give this edition added visibility. All eyes will be on whether public turnout matches the civic appeal.
Point of View
But the annual nature of this exercise raises a harder question: why does plastic and vegetation accumulate to campaign-worthy levels every year? The Sabarmati riverfront is one of India's most-cited urban renewal success stories, yet it requires a civic mobilisation drive before every monsoon to stay functional. If AMC and SRFDCL built year-round maintenance protocols into the riverfront's operating budget — rather than relying on periodic drives and public appeals — the World Environment Day optics would matter far less than the baseline outcome.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sabarmati clean-up drive in Ahmedabad?
It is a four-day cleanliness campaign organised by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (SRFDCL) from 2 to 5 June. The drive aims to remove waste, plastic, wild vegetation, and other obstructions from the Sabarmati riverbed and both its banks ahead of the pre-monsoon water release.
Why is the Sabarmati being cleaned before the monsoon?
The state government's irrigation department releases water into the Sabarmati every year before the monsoon season begins. Civic authorities are clearing the riverbed and riverfront in advance to prevent flooding risks and ensure the area is safe and clean once water flows resume.
What areas will be covered during the four-day drive?
The campaign covers multiple ghats and promenade stretches on both the eastern and western banks, including Gandhi Ashram Ghat, Sample Stage Ghat, Ghat No. 4, 5, 6, and 7, Dadhichi Bridge area, Usmanpura Garden, and Atal Ghat (Ghat No. 11) between Nehru Bridge and Ellis Bridge on the final day.
Who is Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot appealing to?
Mayor Hitesh Barot has called on social, environmental, and voluntary organisations (NGOs), as well as individual citizens, to actively participate in the clean-up drive. AMC said inter-departmental coordination has been completed to support the campaign.
When does the Sabarmati clean-up drive end and why is that date significant?
The drive concludes on 5 June, which is World Environment Day. AMC and SRFDCL timed the final day of the campaign to coincide with the global observance, adding symbolic weight to the river conservation and urban cleanliness effort.
