The National Mission for Clean Ganga has approved the annual master plan for the River Cities Alliance, setting the stage for a year of capacity-building programs, technical interventions, and strategic initiatives aimed at integrating river-sensitive urban planning into India’s growing cities. With a membership of 145 cities, the alliance fosters inter-city collaboration within river basins and supports the formulation of Urban River Management Plans to promote sustainable development.
A key focus this year will be incorporating river considerations into city master plans, supported by training programs in various states. The initiative includes onboarding sessions for cities in Tamil Nadu, with more states set to follow. Five cities—Kanpur, Ayodhya, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Moradabad, and Bareilly—have already developed their management plans, with Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar’s Kham River Restoration Mission earning global recognition for its impact.
The mission is set to expand with 25 new Urban River Management Plans as part of a broader strategy to create 60 such plans in the next two to three years. Backed by the World Bank, the initiative is deepening river-sensitive urban governance with steering committees in states such as Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal guiding implementation efforts.
In alignment with the Prime Minister’s vision, the National Mission for Clean Ganga is leading the development of an Urban River Management Plan for Delhi, positioning its rivers as crucial ecological assets rather than mere water channels. This plan is expected to set the benchmark for metropolitan river management across India.
Technical support will be reinforced through expert groups, eco-friendly riverfront development guidance, and an advisory on vertical coordination among basin, district, and city-level management strategies. Collaborative platforms such as DHARA and exposure visits to Udaipur and Hyderabad are scheduled to facilitate knowledge sharing.
River Cities Alliance will also document successful practices through weekly case studies and launch public awareness campaigns to encourage river-conscious behavior. Financial advisory services will be extended to help cities mobilize resources for river-related projects, while benchmarking member cities on urban river management performance will ensure continued progress.
With the approval of this plan, the National Mission for Clean Ganga is advancing the institutionalization of river-sensitive urban planning, reinforcing efforts to create resilient, inclusive, and water-secure urban ecosystems.
