Bengaluru water board deploys robots to modernise sewer inspections

Bengaluru’s BWSSB uses robots to inspect sewers, avoiding road digging, cutting costs, speeding repairs, boosting safety, and enabling predictive maintenance

Bengaluru has introduced robotic technology to inspect sewer lines, marking a major step in modernising civic infrastructure management. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) rolled out the initiative in November, aiming to reduce disruptive road digging and improve efficiency in pipeline maintenance.

The robotic platforms provide high‑resolution visual inspections of underground pipelines, enabling engineers to identify blockages, cracks, structural deformities, and internal damage without excavation. This non‑invasive approach has already been applied at 38 locations, sparing citizens from the disruption of repeated road cutting while protecting urban infrastructure.

Since its launch on 12 November, the system has been used to address 75 service requests, with 67 inspections completed and a small number pending. The technology has uncovered over 93 distinct defects, many of which would have required multiple rounds of trial‑and‑error digging under conventional methods. By precisely locating faults, engineers have avoided unnecessary excavation, saving costs on restoration work and optimising the deployment of repair teams.

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The initiative has also shortened diagnostic timelines, allowing faster decision‑making and more targeted interventions. Beyond efficiency, the technology enhances urban asset intelligence by providing accurate, real‑time data on underground conditions. This enables a shift towards predictive and preventive maintenance, reducing the risk of sudden breakdowns and operational losses.

Worker safety has also improved, as robotic systems limit the need for manual entry into hazardous confined spaces. The BWSSB views the adoption of robotics as part of its broader commitment to integrating smart technologies into public infrastructure.

Plans are underway to expand robotic inspections across additional zones, further strengthening Bengaluru’s reputation as India’s tech capital and advancing the city’s journey towards smarter, more sustainable urban management.

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