Congress MP Karti Chidambaram Slams Chennai's Sanitation, Urges Civic Body To Learn: 'Visit Indore'

Expressing skepticism over the effectiveness of such study tours, Chidambaram questioned whether past international visits had led to any tangible improvements in Chennai’s civic infrastructure.

Karti Chidambaram's remarks came in response to a post by Namma Chennai which highlighted the proposed visit of Chennai officials to European cities like Barcelona in May.

Source : X

Congress leader Karti P Chidambaram has sparked a debate after urging the MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government to take inspiration from BJP-ruled Indore in waste management and urban sanitation.

In a sharp critique of Chennai Corporation's civic management, Chidambaram posted on X (formerly Twitter):"Can the @chennaicorp name one learning & implementation of a practice from any of the previous study tours? Poor garbage management, street dogs & cattle, broken sidewalks & potholed roads is the hallmark of Chennai. Visit Indore to start with."

Can the @chennaicorp name one learning & implementation of a practise from any of the previous study tours? Poor garbage management, street dogs & cattle, broken sidewalks & potholed roads is the hallmark of Chennai. Visit Indore to start with. https://t.co/yDCko3AaL2

— Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) March 25, 2025

His remarks came in response to a post by Namma Chennai, which highlighted the proposed visit of Chennai officials to European cities like Barcelona in May, with World Bank support. Expressing skepticism over the effectiveness of such study tours, Chidambaram questioned whether past international visits had led to any tangible improvements in Chennai’s civic infrastructure.

Indore: A Model For Cleanliness

Indore has earned the 'Cleanest City in India' title for seven consecutive years as of 2025, making it a benchmark for urban sanitation, as per a report on Times of India.

The city follows a robust system of 100% door-to-door waste collection, strict waste segregation at source and efficient waste processing, including Asia’s largest bio-CNG plant that converts wet waste into fuel. The Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) enforces strict penalties for littering, bans single-use plastics and ensures round-the-clock cleaning with mechanised sweeping and drain maintenance. Public participation plays a key role with extensive awareness campaigns, citizen feedback apps and community-driven zero-waste initiatives. 

Chidambaram’s suggestion that Tamil Nadu officials should visit Indore instead of Europe has reignited discussions on prioritising local success stories.