Cleanliness Drive's Ironic Start: PMC's Own Office in Disarray
The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has set an ambitious target to improve its national ranking in the upcoming Swachh Survekshan 2025-26. However, a visit to its own headquarters in the Maurya Lok Complex reveals a starkly contrasting story of civic neglect. The very office tasked with leading the city's cleanliness campaign is marred by dysfunctional infrastructure and poor hygiene, undermining its public credibility.
Broken Lifts and Stained Walls: A Daily Struggle
For over two months, mobility within the PMC building has been severely hampered as both elevators remain non-functional. This has forced elderly citizens, staff, and daily visitors to climb stairs to reach offices located on the second and fourth floors. A visitor highlighted the irony, noting that despite housing the departments responsible for Patna's urban infrastructure, no visible effort has been made to restore this essential service.
Furthermore, the building's walls are covered with dark red tobacco stains, known as "red spots," on every floor's corners and landings. These stains are explicitly identified as negative markers in the Swachh Survekshan assessment toolkit, which penalizes their presence in public buildings. Their unchecked proliferation at the PMC office presents an ugly sight and contradicts the civic body's own mission.
Foul Odors and Risk to Swachh Survekshan Score
Visitors to the PMC headquarters are immediately greeted by a pervasive stench emanating from the washrooms, which filters into the main corridors. The condition of these facilities indicates a clear lapse in regular cleaning and maintenance protocols. An official familiar with the Swachh Survekshan process pointed out that the current state of the PMC office poses a significant risk.
Under the 2025-26 Swachh Survekshan toolkit, 10,500 marks are allocated for on-the-ground assessment and citizens' feedback. The non-functional lifts, poor hygiene, and prominent "red spots" could lead to substantial point deductions during field inspections, jeopardizing Patna's goal of achieving a 5-star garbage-free city rating and a place in the top 10 ranks.
Contrasting Claims and Preparations
Despite the visible neglect, PMC officials have stated that the building will be repainted and the elevators repaired ahead of the upcoming evaluations. Mayor Sita Sahu, in a previous statement, expressed confidence, saying, "We are fully prepared for the survey. Our effort this year will be to achieve a 5-star rating and secure a place within the top 10."
This claim stands in sharp contrast to the ground reality at the Maurya Lok Complex. In the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 results, Patna had shown promise, achieving a 3-star garbage-free city rating, being named a "Promising Swachh Shehar," and ranking 21st overall in the million-plus city category. It also secured an impressive fourth place in the citizens' feedback segment. The condition of its own headquarters now threatens to undermine this progress and expose a gap between ambition and execution in the city's cleanliness mission.
