Telangana Unveils Project SHUDH to Eliminate Manual Sewer Entry
He said the platform has the potential to improve drainage management and reduce overflow incidents during the monsoon and other seasons
Hyderabad: IT and industries minister D. Sridhar Babu on Saturday launched ‘Project SHUDH’, an AI-based sewer governance platform aimed at improving urban drainage management and eliminating unsafe manual entry into manholes.
Developed by The Bot Factory under the guidance of the All India Robotics Association (AIRA), the platform integrates robotics, artificial intelligence, GIS and predictive analytics to monitor and manage underground sewer systems.
Addressing the event, the minister said the initiative demonstrates the application of advanced technologies to address critical urban infrastructure challenges. He said the platform has the potential to improve drainage management and reduce overflow incidents during the monsoon and other seasons.
He said Telangana has emerged as a hub for innovation, start-ups and emerging technologies, and added that the government would continue to support entrepreneurs developing solutions with social impact.
The minister said the platform could be useful for civic bodies such as the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB). He said trials conducted with Metro Water Works have shown encouraging results, including the ability to detect blockages, generate alerts and support predictive maintenance.
He added that the government is working to modernise public systems to enable adoption of technology-driven solutions.
HMWS&SB managing director Ashok Reddy said the project marks a shift from limited use of robotic tools to a more integrated system for monitoring sewer pipelines. He said trials have been conducted and the product has undergone improvements, with initial results indicating potential for wider implementation.
He said the board plans to undertake a pilot deployment in a selected area and scale up based on performance.
GHMC commissioner R.V. Karnan, AIRA chairman Kishshhan and representatives of The Bot Factory were present at the event.