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Lucknow Breathes Easy: Tops Air Quality Rankings
8 Sep
Summary
- Lucknow ranked first in Swachh Vayu Survekshan-2026 for cities over 10 lakh population.
- The city achieved this by targeting road dust, vehicle emissions, and waste burning.
- Electric vehicles, mechanised sweeping, and green spaces significantly improved air quality.
Lucknow has been recognized as the cleanest air city in India among those with populations exceeding 10 lakh, according to the Swachh Vayu Survekshan-2026. The city achieved a top score of 198 points, surpassing Indore and Jabalpur. This achievement is attributed to a multi-faceted approach targeting daily pollution sources.
Efforts have focused on reducing road dust through mechanised sweeping and paving roads. Additionally, the city has significantly cut emissions by transitioning to electric vehicles for 90% of its door-to-door garbage collection fleet and operating 140 electric buses. A robust waste management system ensures 100% scientific processing of municipal waste, preventing open burning.
To enhance air quality further, Lucknow has incorporated vertical gardens and Miyawaki plantations to increase green cover. Notably, the initiative has extended to the ward level, with Ward-70 ranking first nationally. The focus now is on sustaining these measures for long-term pollution reduction.
