Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has honoured Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation officials and sanitation workers after the city secured a top ranking in Swachh Survekshan 2025–26, praising their role in improving civic cleanliness and supporting preparations for the CII Partnership Summit.
Naidu presented an appreciation award to GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg at a programme held after the two-day summit. He said delegates, investors and industrialists from India and abroad had appreciated Visakhapatnam’s cleanliness, greenery and natural beauty during their visit.
The Chief Minister attributed the recognition to the combined efforts of civic officials, employees, sanitation workers, public representatives and residents. He also commended municipal staff for maintaining services during Cyclones Arnab and Murusu, the municipal elections and preparations for the international business event.
The programme placed sanitation workers at the centre of the city’s cleanliness efforts. Naidu felicitated workers for their contribution to keeping Visakhapatnam clean, while 252 officials and employees were honoured for their role in organising the summit. The awardees included Municipal Administration Principal Secretary S. Suresh Kumar, District Collector and GVMC Special Officer M. Abhishek Kishore, and officials from several departments.
The recognition also links Visakhapatnam’s public image to the day-to-day functioning of its municipal administration. The report attributes the city’s performance not only to visible improvements in streets and public areas, but also to the coordinated work of sanitation teams, civic officials and other government departments during a period that included extreme-weather events, an election and a major business gathering.
Naidu urged the GVMC to sustain its sanitation work and pursue the goal of making Visakhapatnam a global model for cleanliness, environmental protection and urban beautification. The call places continued responsibility on the civic body after the ranking, rather than treating the recognition as a one-time achievement.
Garg said the national recognition had increased the corporation’s responsibility. Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana, senior officials and public representatives attended the programme. The GVMC’s next stated task is to maintain its sanitation efforts while continuing work on environmental protection and urban beautification.
