Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Bhubaneswar, Puri Selected for National Urban Sanitation Initiative
Bhubaneswar and Puri were chosen for a national programme to improve city cleanliness.
The programme is called PRAGATI 50.
It is part of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.
Fifty cities will receive extra support and monitoring.
They will work on managing solid waste and used water better.
They will also improve sanitation and encourage people to participate.
Odisha told the Union government about projects that turn waste into useful products.
The two cities are expected to become examples that other cities can follow.
Bhubaneswar and Puri have been selected among 50 cities under the PRAGATI 50 Initiative.
The initiative is part of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 and covers cities in 24 States and Union Territories.
Selected cities will receive focused monitoring and support to improve waste management, sanitation and citizen participation.
Odisha highlighted waste-to-value projects, including Compressed Bio-Gas plants in Bhubaneswar, Kataka and Puri.
The State department and municipal bodies will track progress using defined Key Performance Indicators.
- Who
- The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs selected Bhubaneswar and Puri, with Odisha government departments and municipal bodies responsible for implementation.
- What
- The two cities were selected under the PRAGATI 50 Initiative to strengthen urban sanitation and scientific waste management.
- When
- The initiative was launched virtually on Tuesday.
- Where
- Bhubaneswar and Puri in Odisha were selected among 50 cities across India.
- Why
- The initiative aims to develop Model Sanitation Cities through improvements in waste management, sanitation, cleanliness and citizen participation.
- Initiative
- PRAGATI 50 Initiative
- National mission
- Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0
- Selected cities
- Bhubaneswar and Puri
- Total cities
- 50 cities from 24 States and Union Territories
- Key focus areas
- Solid waste management, used water management, sanitation, cleanliness and citizen participation
- Implementation partners
- Odisha Housing and Urban Development Department, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Puri Municipal Corporation and SBM-U teams
- Waste-to-value projects
- Compressed Bio-Gas plants in Bhubaneswar, Kataka and Puri, supported by Oil India’s corporate social responsibility efforts