In a blow to the city’s image, Bengaluru has been ranked the fifth dirtiest city in India in the Swachh Survekshan 2025 conducted by the Central Government. The survey, which evaluates cleanliness in cities nationwide, cited poor waste management and civic negligence as primary reasons for the city’s disappointing performance.
The report blames both the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd (BSWML) for the city’s deteriorating sanitation. Residents have pointed out widespread garbage piles, poor segregation of dry and wet waste, and delays in waste collection. In addition, the condition of roads has worsened over the past two to three years.
Once celebrated as the Garden City and India’s Silicon Valley, Bengaluru is now facing ridicule as “Garbage City” on social media. The poor ranking has deeply embarrassed citizens and stakeholders who have long advocated for cleaner urban environments.
In the category of cities with over 10 lakh population, Bengaluru ranked 36th nationally, while Karnataka stood 15th among states. Other cities joining Bengaluru in the bottom rankings include Ranchi, Chennai, Ludhiana, and Madurai. On the other end, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Lucknow, Raipur, and Jabalpur were named the top five cleanest cities.
Despite promises by the state government to turn Bengaluru into a “Brand City,” Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s vision appears unfulfilled. Citizens now demand urgent action and accountability to restore the city’s reputation and infrastructure. The report serves as a wake-up call for BBMP and the state administration to prioritize sustainable sanitation and transparent governance.
