Bengaluru: The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has successfully leveraged robotic technology to inspect underground pipelines, preventing unnecessary road digging at 399 locations across the city over the past six months. This initiative, launched by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar last November, was designed to address pipeline leaks and sewerage faults without disrupting city traffic. It has emerged as one of the city's most impactful technology-driven civic interventions, significantly reducing commuter hardship.
Traditional vs. Modern Approach
Traditionally, BWSSB engineers relied on extensive trial-and-error excavation to identify underground pipeline leaks, sewer blockages, and structural defects. These road-cutting operations frequently caused massive traffic snarls, dust pollution, and prolonged inconvenience for residents. However, the deployment of robotic inspection systems has enabled the utility to pinpoint defects with precision from inside the pipelines, drastically reducing the need to dig up roads.
Extensive Inspections and Defect Detection
According to BWSSB Chairman Ram Prasath Manohar, the robotic units have traversed more than 32.66 kilometres of underground pipeline network between November 2025 and May 2026. During these inspections, engineers detected 394 defects, including leakages, blockages, fractures, and structural damage. This allowed for targeted repairs without major excavation, saving time and resources.
“We understand how frustrating road excavations can be for motorists and the public in a metropolis like Bengaluru,” Manohar said. “Previously, digging up entire stretches of roads was inevitable to detect pipeline leaks or sewerage faults, leading to massive traffic jams. But these machines travel inside the pipelines and accurately pinpoint faults without the need for surface digging, saving the public from immense hardship.”
Public Complaints and Resolution
BWSSB reported that it received 404 public complaints related to pipeline and sewerage issues during the six-month period. Of these, 399 have already been resolved, with the remaining five cases under priority action. The robotic systems, equipped with high-resolution cameras and AI-assisted analytics, can move deep inside underground pipelines and transmit real-time visual data to engineers, enabling swift and precise interventions.
