The annual master plan has been approved by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) within the framework of the River Cities Alliance (RCA)

According to the Jal Shakti Ministry, the initiative aims to incorporate river-sensitive urban planning into India's expanding cities. It includes various capacity-building programs, platforms for knowledge exchange, the development of technical resources, expert advice, and thematic case studies.

The Urban River Management Plans (URMPs) were introduced in 2020 by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG). This innovative approach ensures that environmental, economic, and social factors are integrated into the urban management of rivers. Five cities—Kanpur, Ayodhya, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Moradabad, and Bareilly—have already established their URMPs.

In the coming year, an additional 25 URMPs will be developed as part of the initial phase of a broader mission to create 60 such plans across India within the next two to three years. Steering Committees have been formed in states such as Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal to aid in the formulation and implementation of these plans.

Supported by the World Bank, this initiative represents a significant advancement in enhancing river-sensitive urban governance. The River City Alliance (RCA) was launched by the NMCG under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, in collaboration with the NIUA under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in 2021.

It serves as a dedicated platform for river cities throughout India to engage in discussions and share information for the sustainable management of urban rivers. The Alliance emphasizes three main themes: Networking, Capacity Building, and Technical Support.

Initially comprising 30 member cities, the alliance has now grown to include over 145 cities across India, covering both Ganga basin and non-Ganga basin urban areas. The city of Aarhus, Denmark, has also joined, highlighting the alliance's expanding international collaboration.