For the first time, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is using robotic technology to clean stormwater drains in Circle-12 as a trial run. These advanced robots, equipped with high-resolution CCTV cameras, are placed at major road junctions to find and clear blockages accurately.
Every monsoon, Hyderabad faces stormwater drains overflowing, causing traffic issues and flooding in low-lying areas. The main causes include garbage and debris in drains, damaged channels, and heavy rains that the system cannot handle. To tackle these problems, GHMC is adopting a tech-driven approach.
On Wednesday night, GHMC Chief Engineer Maintenance Sahadev Ratnakar checked the cleaning process at NMDC Junction, Mehdipatnam, where the robots were in action.
GHMC Commissioner R V Karnan stated, “This project aims to reduce overflowing drains, traffic congestion, and flooding in low-lying areas.”
The robotic machines use CCTV cameras to detect blockages and efficiently remove silt, improving water flow during rains. Safety measures are strictly followed to protect both field staff and the public. If the pilot project succeeds, GHMC plans to expand it across all circles, potentially revolutionizing urban infrastructure maintenance. The civic body has pinpointed over 150 critical waterlogging spots in the city.
