Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Indian Cities Modernise Sanitation With AI, EVs and Digital Tools
Indian cities are using new technology to make cleaning services safer and more efficient.
In Raipur, people can book septic-tank cleaning online instead of visiting a municipal office.
They can also pay digitally and follow the job’s progress.
In Thiruvananthapuram, a robot called G-SPIDER removes waste from a canal.
The robot helps protect workers from polluted water, toxic gases and dangerous waste.
Guntur uses more than 200 electric autos to collect rubbish from homes.
Chennai and Indore are also using electric vehicles for waste collection.
GPS helps cities see where vehicles are and monitor their work.
These changes are part of the Swachh Bharat Mission’s move toward digital and cleaner sanitation.
Indian cities are adopting AI, digital platforms and electric vehicles to improve sanitation services.
Raipur’s digital dashboard lets residents book, pay for and track faecal sludge removal online.
Thiruvananthapuram’s G-SPIDER robot uses machine vision and sensors to remove canal waste while reducing worker exposure to hazards.
Guntur’s more than 200 electric autos use GPS tracking and are expected to eliminate over 71,000 litres of diesel use annually.
Chennai and Indore have deployed electric collection vehicles, with GPS systems supporting monitoring and service transparency.
- Who
- Indian city governments and municipal corporations, including those in Raipur, Thiruvananthapuram, Guntur, Chennai and Indore.
- What
- Cities are modernising sanitation with AI, digital booking and monitoring systems, robots, GPS tracking and electric vehicles.
- When
- The developments were reported on Thursday, ahead of the 12th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission, which launched on October 2, 2014.
- Where
- Across India, including cities in Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh.
- Why
- To make waste and waterway management safer, cleaner and more efficient, while reducing manual sewer work, diesel use and emissions.
- Mission launch
- Swachh Bharat Mission launched on October 2, 2014.
- Raipur dashboard
- Residents can book, pay for and track desludging services digitally through a Faecal Sludge Management dashboard.
- Thiruvananthapuram robot
- G-SPIDER uses machine vision, sensors and a biomimetic claw to remove waste from the Amayizhanchan Canal.
- Guntur electric autos
- More than 200 GPS-equipped electric autos collect waste and eliminate the need for more than 71,000 litres of diesel annually.
- Chennai fleet
- The Greater Chennai Corporation has deployed 5,478 battery-operated e-rickshaws across all 15 zones.
- Chennai emissions
- The e-rickshaw fleet reduces approximately 41 tonnes of carbon emissions daily, or 15,160 tonnes annually.
- Indore fleet
- Indore uses 100 electric vehicles for door-to-door collection in core areas, monitored through GPS and the Integrated Command and Control Centre.