Video Of Pothole-Riddled Roads Puts Indore’s ‘Cleanest City’ Tag Under Scanner: ‘Life Ki Koi Guarantee Nahi’

Madhya Pradesh’s Indore is known for topping cleanliness charts almost every year. But now a short clip is being circulated widely online that has shifted attention to the condition of roads used by residents

every day.

The footage has prompted mixed reactions largely because it presents visuals that contrast with the city’s well-known image. The video shows a man riding his scooter through a stretch of road filled with potholes, slush and stagnant water.

Rider Shows Indore’s Road Conditions

As the rider moves forward, he records the scene and speaks about the difficulty of commuting on the road. “Hum sahi salamat ghar tak pauch bhi payenge ya nahi, eski koi guarantee nahi hai (There is no guarantee that we will even reach home safely),” he says.

Pointing the camera towards the damaged road, he adds, “Es road ki halat dekhiye aap ek bar. Ye main connecting line hai jo aas pass ki 20 colonies ko jodta hai aur eski halat dekhiye aap (Look at the condition of this road. This is a main connecting route that links around 20 nearby colonies).”

He further questions whether the road has ever received attention, saying, “Kya yaha se humare vidhayak ki kabhi nazar nahi jati h in road par? Ye main road hai…gaddhe ka size dekhiye aap ek baar lekin sarkaar soyi hui hai (Has our local MLA ever noticed this road? This is a main road…look at the size of the potholes but the government seems asleep).”

The rider also claims the issue has persisted for years. “10 saal se dekhra hu mai, yaha koi vikas nahi hai (I have been seeing this for 10 years, there has been no development here),” he says.

He adds that the stretch is not long but remains difficult to use. “Aisa nahi hai ki ye bahut zyada lamba hai, ye sirf 1 kilometre ka rasta hai. Aur eski halat itni kharab hai, yaha naale ka pani behta rehta hai (It’s not a long road, just one kilometre, but its condition is extremely poor. Drain water keeps flowing here).”

Talking about the monsoon, he says, “Barsaat mein itna paani bhar jata hai ki seedha ghutno ke upar paani ajata hai…log majboor hai yaha se jane ke liye (During rains, water rises above knee level…people are forced to pass through this road).”

Watch The Clip Here

Welcome to India’s Cleanest City — INDORE.

After 20+ years of BJP rule in Madhya Pradesh and a triple-engine Govt in Indore, this is the state of the roads.

Cleanliness rankings don’t fix infrastructure. India’s cleanest city deserves roads that match the tag. pic.twitter.com/9E85RW6Imp

— #YeThikKarkeDikhao (@YTKDIndia) December 29, 2025

Questions On Claims

News18 could not independently verify the authenticity of the video or confirm when it was recorded.

A social media user sought clarification from chatbot Grok which responded, “The video appears to be from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, based on text overlays like ‘Indore’s Insight,’ local references, and MP-09 license plates. It was uploaded to X on December 29, 2025. No filming date is visible in the footage, so the exact time of recording is uncertain, but it seems recent.”

The video appears to be from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, based on text overlays like "Indore's Insight," local references, and MP-09 license plates. It was uploaded to X on December 29, 2025. No filming date is visible in the footage, so the exact time of recording is uncertain, but…

— Grok (@grok) December 29, 2025

Internet Reacts To Indore’s Poor Roads

Meanwhile, criticism extended beyond the video itself. In the comment section, several users questioned the gap between rankings and ground reality.

One user commented, “Cleanest city on paper & dirty city in reality.”

Another added, “Rankings bhi inki, sadak bhi inki (The rankings are theirs and so are the roads).”

Questioning the survey framework, a person said, “The joke of the decade is the parameters on which SwachSurvekshan and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs decide the cleanest city in India!”

“Our cities have become unlivable because of toxic air, potholes roads and thrown out garbage in the roads. Severe punishment is imposed on the corrupt officials/politicians, everything will become fine,” another comment read.

Indore And Its Cleanliness Ranking

Indore has secured the top position in the Swachh Survekshan cleanliness survey for eight consecutive years. The city is recognised for its waste management systems, source segregation practices and citizen participation and is often cited as a model for urban sanitation initiatives across India.