After Cleanliness & Development, Vizag Ranks Top in Women’s Safety

Vizag is witnessing all-round development and it is evident in the rankings the city is securing in various indices. After securing top position in the Swachhta Pakhwada for it cleanliness and sanitation, the Port City stood among the top scorers in the ‘Index on Women Safety (NARI) 2025.

Based on a survey conducted in 31 major cities covering all states in the country, seven cities were identified as the safest for women. Vizag is among the top scorers along with Kohima, Bhubaneswar, the northeastern cities of Aizawl, Gangtok and Itanagar, in the safety rankings, often correlating with high gender equity, infrastructure, policing or civic participation. Among the metropolitan cities, Mumbai figures among the top seven, while Delhi and Kolkata were among the cities with lowest scores in the index.

NDA Restores Law & Order

After the TDP-led NDA government was voted to power, law and order, which dropped to abysmal-level during the previous YSRC rule, has been improved. Crime rate too is also on the decline. With strict policing and vigilance round-the-clock at all major junctions, highways and thoroughfares, confidence has been restored among the citizens in the entire state as well.

During the YSRCP rule, ganja smuggling from Vizag was at its peak as the contraband was produced in the tribal districts, near the city. Sporadic incidents of gangrapes of minors were also reported from Vizag.  However, after the TPD ledu NDA returned to power in 2024, there has been a complete change in the situation.

Survey Information

The National Annual Report & Index on Women’s Safety (NARI) 2025 conceived by data science company Pvalue Analytics was released by the National Commission for Women chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar. The report showed that while 60% of women surveyed felt ‘safe’, 40% felt ‘not so safe’ or ‘unsafe’ in their cities. The perception of safety dropped sharply at night.

Prevalence of harassment remains high with 7% women admitting to have faced at least one incident of harassment in public spaces in 2024. The survey measured overall city safety, infrastructure, incidence and reporting of harassment, domain-wise safety, and confidence in authorities.