The Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) celebrates the first anniversary of deploying the Bandicoot Mobility+ robots, marking a significant advancement in the city’s sewer maintenance practices by making them safer, more efficient, and humane.
Since their launch in April 2024, the Bandicoot Mobility+ robots have transformed sanitation work across Chennai. In the past year, the robots have cleaned over 5,000 manholes and stormwater drains, drastically reducing the need for manual scavenging and improving the safety and dignity of sanitation workers. Developed by Genrobotics, a Kerala-based startup recognized with a National Award and ranked among MeitY’s top AI startups, Bandicoot symbolizes India’s commitment to leveraging robotics for social impact. The Mobility+ version integrates robotic technology with a vehicle-mounted system, enabling easy transport to different locations, even in densely populated urban spaces.
The robots’ capability to conduct deep, precise cleaning in manholes, with depths exceeding 10 meters, has been particularly valuable in Chennai’s intricate underground drainage system. Equipped with real-time camera monitoring, gas detection, and contactless waste collection, the robots prioritize worker safety while ensuring efficient operation. The system also includes an onboard waste storage unit, an automatic dumper, and stabilizing mechanisms, making the entire cleaning process seamless and hygienic, without any need for human intervention inside the manhole.
This successful implementation showcases how Indian startups are tackling real-world challenges with technology designed to make a difference. Genrobotics has not only tackled a longstanding public health issue but also addressed human rights concerns, transforming sanitation practices with indigenous technology.
The success in Chennai has inspired other cities, with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) announcing plans to adopt Bandicoot robots for drain cleaning in Bengaluru. This marks a growing national trend of embracing technology-driven urban infrastructure solutions.
“This isn’t just about using robots for cleaning manholes. It’s about bringing dignity, safety, and innovation to sanitation,” said Rashid K, Co-founder of Genrobotics. “Bandicoot is the world’s first robotic scavenger, fully developed in India, built from the ground up to solve the critical issue of manual scavenging.”
He further emphasized, “India has tremendous talent—from IITs to passionate innovators. In a developing nation like ours, numerous social issues need real solutions. True innovators should focus on tackling these challenges, helping India thrive as a deep-tech hub, rather than copying existing solutions for short-term gain. That’s why we chose to innovate with purpose—not just to create technology, but to bring real change. We’ve been committed to that mission since 2012.”
Building on its success, CMWSSB plans to expand the use of robotic sanitation systems to more areas in the city and ramp up preparations for the upcoming monsoon season. With Bandicoot Mobility+, Chennai has not only embraced innovation but also set a new standard for cities across India looking to create safer and smarter urban environments.
In 2015, a heartbreaking incident in Kozhikode, Kerala, resulted in the deaths of two sanitation workers while they were cleaning a manhole. A civilian, Naushad, an auto-rickshaw driver, attempted to help but tragically lost his life in the process. This tragedy served as the catalyst for the creation of Genrobotics in 2017, with the mission of ending hazardous manual scavenging through groundbreaking robotics.
The company’s flagship product, Bandicoot, is the world’s first robotic scavenger designed to safely and efficiently clean manholes and sewers. Bandicoot was developed to eliminate the dangerous need for human labor in such tasks, incorporating advanced robotic arms, four robotic legs, night-vision cameras, and poisonous gas detection systems to mimic human actions while ensuring safety.
In addition to its technological innovation, Genrobotics provides training to sanitation workers, transforming them into robot operators and offering job continuity while enhancing their safety and dignity. With over 3,000 trained operators working across 19 states and 3 union territories, Genrobotics is reshaping the sanitation industry. Awarded multiple accolades for its work, the company is dedicated to improving the lives of sanitation workers through safe, dignified, and technology-driven solutions.
