Vadodara, Sep 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday praised Vadodara residents for their enthusiastic participation in the city’s cleanliness campaign, saying the effort reflects the strong spirit of public participation in keeping the city clean.
The appreciation came during PM Modi’s visit to Vadodara, where he attended the ‘NaMo 4 Viksit Bharat’ programme and inaugurated and dedicated several development projects. The city had launched a large-scale cleanliness and environmental campaign ahead of his visit under the Gujarat government’s ‘Swachhata Se Swagat’ initiative.
The cleanliness campaign brought together residents, sanitation workers, civic officials, elected representatives, educational institutions and voluntary organisations. The drive covered public spaces, lakes, gardens, healthcare centres, heritage sites and other important areas of the city.
Large numbers of citizens joined the campaign across Vadodara’s 19 wards. The initiative also included tree plantation and environmental awareness activities, giving the cleanliness drive a broader focus on protecting the city’s natural and public spaces.
The campaign saw particularly strong participation around heritage and recreational locations. Thousands of residents also joined cleanliness activities along important routes and public areas, while saplings were planted and distributed at several locations.
A cyclothon organised as part of the wider campaign further brought residents and children together to promote both fitness and cleanliness. Around 1,500 children participated in the event, reinforcing the message that keeping the city clean is a shared responsibility.
PM Modi’s remarks have placed the spotlight on the role citizens can play alongside municipal authorities in improving urban cleanliness. The Vadodara campaign has shown how community participation can turn a civic initiative into a broader public movement.
With the festive season approaching, the cleanliness effort is also expected to encourage residents to maintain cleaner streets, neighbourhoods, markets and public spaces. The emphasis is now on sustaining the momentum beyond the campaign and making cleanliness a regular part of civic life.
The Vadodara initiative reflects a wider effort to combine cleanliness, environmental awareness and public participation, while creating a cleaner and more welcoming city for residents and visitors.