A decade of technology driven solutions, civic collaboration and people engagement

January 2026 marks a significant milestone for the Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative ( APCCI)  as it completes 10 years of driving sustainable urban transformation. Inspired by ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’, Industrialist and Philanthropist Mr.Adar Poonawalla announced the initiative in 2015 by committing  personal funds to launch APCCI as a focused, mission-driven effort to enhance public sanitation and foster civic pride in Pune.  The initiative was formally inaugurated in January 2016.

What began as a bold vision has evolved into a technology-driven public–private partnership that has redefined how cities can collaborate, innovate, and engage citizens to create cleaner, healthier urban spaces.

At the heart of the initiative lies civic collaboration, technology-driven solutions and citizens engagement By working closely with municipal bodies, sanitation workers, urban planners, the initiative has strengthened city systems rather than replacing them. This collaborative model has contributed to a better impact

Technology-driven solutions, has been a game changer. From data-led waste management systems and GPS-enabled collection vehicles to real-time monitoring dashboards, technology has brought transparency, efficiency, and accountability to urban cleanliness efforts. These tools have helped cities move from reactive clean-ups to proactive, preventive strategies.

Equally vital is citizen engagement. The initiative has consistently focused on turning residents into active stakeholders through awareness campaigns, digital platforms, community programs, and school outreach. Supporting various volunteer-led initiatives like cleanliness drives and post-marathon clean-ups and by encouraging behavioural change and shared ownership, cleanliness has become a collective responsibility rather than a top-down mandate.

As the Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative steps into its second decade, it stands as a powerful example of how purpose-driven leadership, smart technology, and engaged citizens can come together to build cleaner, more resilient cities for the future.