Tech drives change: Robots to clean manholes in Vizag

VISAKHAPATNAM: The

Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation

(GVMC) is in the process of procuring two ‘Bandicoot’ branded robotic manhole cleaning machines with about Rs 80 lakh.


Having two interconnected structures, the control panel stays outside the manhole. The other structure with an arm and four legs enters the manhole and clears the silt and blockages. The control panel, having infrared cameras, helps in live internal inspection.

The person operating the scavenging machine can monitor, control and operate it to perfection.

GVMC superintending engineer (water supply & underground drainage management) K Venu Gopal said that the robotic machines would do away the need of sanitary workers entering the manholes for scavenging.

“It can be remotely controlled using simple user interface and the high resolution camera in the control panel works even during night time. It can clean manholes up to 10 metres depth. The sensors attached to this spider-like robot would even detect noxious gases such as methane, hydrogen sulphide, carbon monoxide and others trapped in the manholes, and alert the staff beforehand,” said Venu Gopal.

The superintending engineer added that GVMC recently introduced three vehicle-mounted jetting machines to mechanise the sewer and septic tank cleaning operations with about Rs 1.25 crore. “These include 6,000-litre capacity vehicles and one 1,000-litre capacity vehicle. The smaller one would be deployed in the narrow lanes of the city. These jetting machines would help the GVMC in keeping the underground drainage network free of clogging, silt or blockages. The high pressure water jets from these machines can clear a chocking point, to a maximum extent, located four manholes away in the same UGD line,” said Venu Gopal.

There are about 38,000 manholes in the city limits, while the UGD network is spread in about 780 kilometres. The GVMC is also participating in Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge, being conducted by the

ministry of housing and urban affairs

.

As part of the challenge, the focus would also be on mechanised cleaning and capacity building of the workforce. A total prize money of Rs 52 crore will be given to the winning cities.