AI-powered sewer governance platform ‘Project SHUDH’ launched in Hyderabad
Hyderabad, July 11 (TNT) : Telangana Information Technology and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu on Saturday launched Project SHUDH, an AI-powered sewer governance platform developed by Hyderabad-based deep-tech startup The Bot Factory, aimed at modernising sewer management and eliminating manual entry into hazardous underground drainage systems.
The platform was unveiled at T-Works in Hyderabad in the presence of Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) Managing Director Ashok Reddy, GHMC Commissioner R.V. Karnan, All India Robotics Association (AIRA) Chairman Kishshhan, and senior officials.
Speaking on the occasion, Sridhar Babu said Project SHUDH demonstrates how advanced technologies can be leveraged to address critical urban infrastructure challenges.
He said Telangana has emerged as a hub for innovation and startups, with the government committed to supporting technology-driven solutions that deliver social impact.
The Minister said the platform could significantly strengthen the operations of civic agencies such as GHMC and HMWSSB.
Referring to trials conducted with Metro Water Works, he said the system had shown promising results by identifying drain blockages, generating alerts and providing predictive analytics for timely intervention.
He said the government is modernising public systems to promote innovation-led governance and expressed confidence that Project SHUDH would improve drainage management and help reduce sewer overflows, particularly during the monsoon.
HMWSSB Managing Director Ashok Reddy said the utility had earlier deployed robotic technologies for specific operational tasks, but Project SHUDH marks its first major initiative for intelligent monitoring and management of sewer pipelines.
He said the platform has undergone multiple trials with encouraging outcomes and that a pilot project would soon be taken up in a selected area before wider implementation.
The Bot Factory’s Robotics Head Nihitha said Project SHUDH represents a shift from conventional sewer cleaning to comprehensive sewer governance.
She said every sewer intervention can be digitally tracked, analysed and monitored, enabling civic bodies to build a transparent and data-driven management system while working towards the goal of zero manual sewer entry.
Developed as a disaster-management robotics initiative, Project SHUDH integrates autonomous sewer-cleaning robots, artificial intelligence, GIS and satellite-based monitoring, predictive analytics and real-time governance dashboards to enable continuous monitoring and management of underground drainage infrastructure.
Unlike conventional mechanised cleaning systems, the platform creates a digital and auditable record of every sewer intervention, allowing civic agencies to shift from reactive maintenance to data-driven governance of underground assets.
The Bot Factory said the long-term objective of Project SHUDH is to eliminate manual sewer entry, improve worker safety, reduce operational costs and establish a modern governance framework for urban sewer infrastructure.
The company said the platform addresses a critical national challenge, as sewer maintenance in many Indian cities still depends on manual intervention when conventional machinery fails, exposing workers to hazardous and life-threatening conditions.
It added that the initiative aligns with national priorities on worker safety, Smart Cities and digital governance.
TNT TS
