Ahmedabad: Now, Bandicoot robots to enter sewers so workers don’t have to | Ahmedabad News

Ahmedabad: In a step towards ending manual scavenging in the city, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is deploying seven Bandicoot robotic units to desilt and clean sewer lines across all seven municipal zones. The machines will take over tasks that previously required workers to enter manholes, thus reducing risks.The Rs 17-crore contract, which includes five years of operation and maintenance, forms part of the civic body’s infrastructure upgrade ahead of the 2030 Commonwealth Games.According to a senior AMC official, “The robot is lowered into the manhole through a vehicle-mounted integration unit. Once inside, it scans the walls, assesses the shape and depth, and deploys its mechanical legs to begin cleaning,” he said.“The robots can extract a range of waste, including silt, mud, sand, fatbergs from hotel waste, plastic, and industrial debris, using an extendable arm that retrieves material from every corner,” said Vimal Govind MK, CEO and co-founder of Genrobotics.He added, “Each unit can pull out up to 250kg of waste in one go. A collection tray descends from the integration unit, gathers the extracted waste, and transfers it to a holding chamber, from where it is sent to a sewage treatment plant.” Each robot can clean 10 manholes or 500 metres of sewer line per day. By Govind’s calculation, the seven-unit fleet will together cover 87.5km of sewer lines every month. The systems are generator-powered to maintain the required power density. These robots are expected to be delivered by March 31, and field operations are likely to begin within three to four months. The units can operate at depths of 10-12 metres and are built to withstand corrosion and chemical exposure. They are sealed against rat infestation, and meet waterproofing standards to ensure durability, Govind said.