India is home to some of the world’s largest river systems, which support agriculture, livelihoods, biodiversity, and cultural heritage. Thus, its River Cities Alliance (RCA) is revolutionizing urban river management by fostering sustainable practices and collaborative efforts. Since its inception in November 2021 with an initial cohort of 30 cities, the RCA has grown significantly, now encompassing over 145 cities, including global collaborators such as Aarhus, Denmark.
Co-led by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), the RCA facilitates inter-city knowledge sharing and supports the development of Urban River Management Plans (URMPs). It emphasizes capacity building, technical support, and knowledge exchange to address challenges such as pollution, encroachment, and climate change impacts on urban rivers. It empowers cities to adopt sustainable practices tailored to local river ecosystems while encouraging inter-city collaboration for long-term solutions.
It also aims to embed water sensitivity into mainstream urban planning, ensuring that rivers are treated as critical natural assets rather than waste channels. A significant milestone in RCA’s journey was the DHARA 2023 (Driving Holistic Action for Urban Rivers) event held in Pune, which brought together city planners and stakeholders to discuss river-sensitive urban planning. It highlighted the importance of integrating water management into urban development to prevent issues like floods and inadequate waste management.
The RCA’s global outreach was further strengthened through partnerships with international organizations and participation in events like the UN Water Conference 2023. These collaborations aim to learn from global best practices in river management and adapt them to the Indian context.
With the recent approval of the Action Plan 2025, the RCA is set to undertake a series of initiatives focussing on river-sensitive urban planning, capacity-building programs, and the development of technical tools. These efforts align with the Prime Minister’s vision of rejuvenating urban rivers and ensuring sustainable urban development.
The River Cities Alliance stands as a testament to India’s commitment to preserving its urban rivers through innovation and international collaboration. With urbanization, the RCA’s role in guiding sustainable urban river management becomes increasingly vital for ecological resilience and urban well-being, ensuring that water resources remain central to future urban sustainability strategies.