Managing urban rivers has emerged as a key focus area in India’s urban development agenda. The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), and partner institutions have taken the lead in developing frameworks and guidance to promote river-sensitive development in cities. A major milestone in this journey was the launch of the River Cities Alliance (RCA) on 25 November 2021 by the Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in the presence of Shri Durga Shanker Mishra, then Secretary, MoHUA. What began with 30 cities in 2021 has now expanded to 146 member cities in 2024.

RCA has become a vibrant platform for cities to ideate, share, and collaborate on sustainable urban river management. As the river-sensitive approach gains momentum, cities are increasingly recognizing the role of healthy rivers in shaping resilient and water-secure urban futures.

The ongoing project, ‘Strengthening the River Cities Alliance for Achieving Healthy Rivers’, aims to build a cohort of cities committed to river rejuvenation. Its mission is to enhance the planning and operational capacities of RCA cities using the Urban River Management Plan (URMP) framework, enabling pollution-free, flowing rivers and fostering inclusive and sustainable urban development across India.