Chennai, Feb 3 (NationPress) The Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (Metro Water) has taken a significant step by introducing cutting-edge robotic systems designed to inspect underground water and sewer pipelines throughout the city. This initiative aims to minimize road disruptions and enhance convenience for both motorists and pedestrians.

As part of this innovative project, robotic crawler cameras will be deployed within active pipelines to evaluate their internal state without the need for road excavation. These inspections will aid in detecting leaks, structural issues, contamination sources, blockages, and faulty connections—challenges that are typically hard to identify from the surface.

The plan outlines the use of three distinct types of robotic systems to inspect pipelines of different sizes, including small lines around 50 mm, medium pipelines of approximately 250 mm, and larger water mains and sewer lines measuring up to 1,000 mm and beyond.

Inspections are set to occur in designated areas across all 15 zones of Chennai. The robotic units come equipped with high-definition cameras and laser profiling tools capable of recording continuous video, taking still images, and mapping internal irregularities along the pipeline.

Engaged agencies will be required to provide comprehensive digital inspection reports, featuring videos, images, and defect maps to facilitate subsequent repair and replacement operations.

Gaurav Kumar, Executive Director of the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, emphasized the need for a dependable method to assess the conditions of aging pipelines without the constant need to dig up roads. He stated, “The aim is to minimize inconvenience and expedite issue detection,” noting that many sections of the city’s pipeline network are nearly 40 years old and increasingly prone to deterioration.

This decision follows a successful pilot project conducted in 2023, during which robotic inspections were executed in two phases covering approximately 2.5 km of pipelines. This initiative uncovered damage in several double-wall corrugated (DWC) pipes made from high-density polyethylene, which were subsequently replaced with cast iron pipes to enhance durability in multiple locations.

Encouraged by these results, Metro Water has issued a tender to hire specialized agencies for a two-year term to perform systematic robotic inspections. The selected agency must maintain a standby robotic system to prevent service interruptions and provide regular updates and inspection reports to Metro Water engineers.

Inspection teams are expected to operate for up to 10 hours daily. According to the tender specifications, payments will be based on the length of the pipeline inspected, with separate daily rates for operation and maintenance. The Board anticipates that this technology-driven approach will accelerate fault detection, minimize public disruption, and enhance the overall reliability of Chennai’s underground water and sewer systems.