Karnal MC’s Swachhta Setu app launched at Municipalika 2026

Aiming to boost citizen-led cleanliness initiatives, Union Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, launched the innovative ‘Swachhta Setu’ mobile application of Karnal Municipal Corporation (KMC) during the 18th International Exhibition and Conference ‘Municipalika 2026’ on Safe, Smart & Sustainable Solutions, held at Bharat Mandapam on Wednesday.

According to authorities, the launch marked a proud moment for Karnal as its civic innovation received a national platform at the prestigious urban development conference.

Karnal Mayor Renu Bala Gupta, who is also president of the All India Mayors Council, along with KMC Commissioner Dr Vaishali Sharma and other senior officials, was present on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, Manohar Lal Khattar shared his views on urban development and emphasised the need for safe, smart and sustainable solutions.

The Union Minister described the Swachhta Setu app as a significant step towards transparent, accountable and citizen-centric municipal services. He said that India is moving rapidly on the path of urban transformation and that such platforms play a key role in improving city governance and planning.

The Mayor expressed gratitude to the Union Minister for launching the app and said that under his visionary leadership, urban development in the country had gained new momentum. She added that his vision of balanced development across the nation aligns with the goal of achieving a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.

“Swachhta Setu is a mobile application designed to strengthen citizen participation and promote behavioural change through technology. The app acts as a digital bridge, connecting students and citizens directly to Karnal’s cleanliness mission, making community participation natural, rewarding, and continuous,” said the Mayor.

She emphasised that a clean city is not built by the government alone. “It is built by every child who knows where to dispose of waste, and every resident who speaks up when they see something wrong,” she added.

Commissioner Dr Vaishali Sharma said the Swachhta Setu app aims to empower citizen participation. She explained that the app is built around two impactful ideas: learning through gameplay and impact through civic participation.

The app allows students to play and learn about waste sorting while earning points. It includes interactive, gamified learning tools, such as waste segregation games, cleanliness quizzes and school leader boards. The initiative is designed to instil lifelong habits of cleanliness from an early age, she said.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Ashok Kumar added, “If a citizen spots a garbage dump, they can click a photograph, tag the location and report it instantly through the integrated system. The app ensures swift action by authorities while promoting accountability and transparency.”