The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), in collaboration with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), has completed Urban River Management Plans (URMPs) for 13 cities, marking a significant step toward river-centric urban planning. Under Phase-1, URMPs are being prepared for 27 cities, and under Phase-2 for 33 additional cities, taking the total to 60 cities in the Ganga basin. Supported under the Namami Gange Programme, the initiative is among the world's largest coordinated efforts to integrate river health with urban planning. It is rooted in the vision expressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the National Ganga Council meeting held in Kanpur in December 2019, calling for a shift from city-centric to river-centric development. The URMP framework addresses urban river management through three pillars: environmental, economic and social, with a ten-point agenda covering floodplain regulation, pollution control, wetland and water-body rejuvenation, riverfront protection, treated water reuse, and sustained citizen engagement. The programme builds on successful pilots in Ayodhya, Kanpur and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. With World Bank support, Phase-1 covers 27 cities across Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal; 13 URMPs are complete and 12 more are targeted by March 2027 (FY 2026-27). Completed cities include Haldwani-Kathgodam, Ramnagar, Rishikesh, Gorakhpur, Shahjahanpur, Bijnor, Prayagraj, Mirzapur, Chhapra, Buxar and Gaya. The long-term vision covers all 97 cities on the Ganga main stem, establishing a nationally coherent yet locally adaptable framework for river-sensitive urban planning.
NMCG Expands Urban River Management Plans Across Ganga Basin Cities
NMCG with NIUA has completed Urban River Management Plans (URMPs) for 13 Ganga basin cities under the Namami Gange Programme, with Phase-1 covering 27 cities and Phase-2 adding 33 more, advancing river-centric urban planning toward all 97 cities on the Ganga main stem.
Key facts
- NMCG, in collaboration with NIUA, completed Urban River Management Plans (URMPs) for 13 cities in the Ganga basin.
- Phase-1 covers 27 cities (with World Bank support) and Phase-2 covers 33 additional cities, totalling 60 cities.
- The initiative is rooted in PM Modi's December 2019 National Ganga Council vision (Kanpur) for river-centric development.
- The URMP framework rests on three pillars - environmental, economic and social - with a ten-point agenda.
- Successful pilots were run in Ayodhya, Kanpur and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.
- The long-term vision covers all 97 cities on the Ganga main stem.
6-axis classification
Appears in these topics
Practice MCQ from this story
SolveTap an option below. Correct or incorrect feedback appears instantly.
Which of the following institutions has collaborated with the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to prepare Urban River Management Plans (URMPs) for cities in the Ganga basin?
According to the source, NMCG completed the Urban River Management Plans (URMPs) in collaboration with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA). Hence option C is correct.
Source: Press Information Bureau
Frequently asked questions
What is a URMP?
An Urban River Management Plan (URMP) is a framework prepared under the Namami Gange Programme that integrates river health into urban planning through three pillars - environmental, economic and social - and a ten-point agenda.
Which institutions are leading the URMP initiative?
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) leads it in collaboration with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), with World Bank support for Phase-1.
How many cities are covered?
URMPs for 13 cities are complete; Phase-1 covers 27 cities and Phase-2 covers 33 additional cities (total 60), with a long-term vision of all 97 cities on the Ganga main stem.
On whose vision is the initiative based?
It is based on the vision expressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the National Ganga Council meeting in Kanpur in December 2019, calling for river-centric development.
Was this useful?
Share corrections or missing exam angles with the editorial team.
Send feedback