Tiruchi ranks first among Tamil Nadu cities in clean air survey

Tiruchi has ranked first among cities in Tamil Nadu in the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026, according to results released by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. In the national category for cities with populations exceeding one million, Tiruchi secured 12th place with a score of 183 out of 200. This performance places it ahead of other major Tamil Nadu cities, including Chennai, which ranked 35th, and Madurai, which ranked 39th.

Nationally, Lucknow took the top position in the same category, followed by Indore and Jabalpur. In the category for cities with populations below 300,000, Thoothukudi secured 35th place. The survey, conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board across 131 cities under the National Clean Air Programme, evaluated urban administrations on parameters such as particulate matter (PM10) reduction, road dust control, waste management, air-quality monitoring infrastructure, and public awareness.

Local officials attributed Tiruchi’s success to sustained civic interventions, including improved waste segregation, enhanced door-to-door garbage collection, and the use of mechanized road sweeping. Additionally, stricter enforcement against open waste burning and the expansion of green spaces contributed to the city's progress, with PM10 levels reportedly decreasing from 88 in 2017-18 to 53 in 2025-26.