What helped Lucknow top India’s clean-air rankings? 5 measures behind its No. 1 rank

Lucknow’s impressive performance in the Swachh Vayu Survekshan-2026, securing the top spot in the national ranking, is attributed to a multi-faceted approach aimed at tackling various sources of pollution. The city scored 198 points, narrowly outranking Indore and Jabalpur.

Key measures behind Lucknow’s success include the extensive use of electric vehicles, both for public transport and garbage collection. Around 1,100 electric vehicles are now in use, while 140 electric buses are operating in the public transport fleet. To support the transition to electric mobility, 12 charging stations with 916 charging points have been installed across the city.

Another crucial aspect of Lucknow’s clean-air strategy is the reduction of road dust. The Municipal Corporation has deployed 97 electric mechanised sweeping machines and paved 559.85 km of roads end-to-end. This combination of paving and regular sweeping has been instrumental in controlling re-suspended dust particles.

Efforts to address pollution from burning municipal waste have also been significant. The city now has arrangements for 100% scientific processing of municipal waste, with a capacity of 2,550 tonnes per day. Additionally, measures are in place to prevent open waste burning, ensuring that collected garbage does not end up being burnt in open spaces, releasing smoke and fine particles into the air.

Expanding green cover in a densely built urban environment poses challenges, but Lucknow has implemented innovative solutions such as Miyawaki plantations and vertical gardens. These green spaces are strategically placed to enhance the city’s appearance while increasing its overall green cover. The strategy extends beyond city-level plans to the ward level, with Ward-70 in Zone-4 achieving the highest ranking among urban wards with a population of over 30,000.

Maintaining these measures and translating the top ranking into long-term reductions in particulate pollution will be crucial as Lucknow continues to expand.