In a major push toward cleaner, safer cities, the Government of Gujarat, through the Gujarat Urban Development Mission (GUDM), has deployed Bandicoot Mobility+, a vehicle-integrated robotic manhole cleaning system—across multiple Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) under the Swachh Bharat Mission’s Emergency Response Sanitation Unit (ERSU) initiative. This shift toward advanced, mechanized sanitation reflects the state’s vision of ending manual scavenging and ensuring dignity, safety, and hygiene in urban maintenance operations.
The robotic machine, developed by Genrobotics, is equipped with a precision robotic arm, robotic legs, high-definition cameras, gas detection sensors, and a sealed waste management system, eliminating the need for human entry into manholes. Compact and vehicle-mounted, Bandicoot Mobility+ can reach even narrow and congested lanes, making it a perfect fit for India’s evolving urban landscape.
This rollout comes at a defining moment: Gujarat has declared 2025 as the Urban Development Year, commemorating 20 years since Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, as then Chief Minister, first introduced 2005 as the original Urban Development Year. The vision set forth in 2005 laid the foundation for two decades of consistent urban transformation. Today, under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, the state is accelerating its commitment to urban reform, focusing on improving the ‘Ease of Living’ for all citizens through smarter, safer, and more inclusive public services.
A key pillar of this renewed mission is Gujarat’s determination to become a manual scavenging–free state, driven by its #ManholeToMachineHole initiative. The deployment of Bandicoot Mobility+ across ULBs is not just a technological upgrade—it is a social and systemic reform. GUDM has already implemented the robot in major cities including Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Surat—all of which have been nationally recognized for their cleanliness and innovation in urban sanitation.
Ahmedabad was awarded the title of India’s Cleanest Big City (population over 10 lakh), Surat ranked second in the Super Swachh League, and Gandhinagar earned recognition in the category of cities with a population between 3 to 10 lakh. These recognitions are a reflection not only of traditional civic performance but of the quiet technological revolution reshaping their urban infrastructure.
“Himatnagar, one of the many ULBs where Bandicoot Mobility+ is operational, has seen firsthand the impact of the robotic solution.“Bandicoot Mobility+ has revolutionized sanitation operations here. It ensures the safety of our workers while improving efficiency and cleanliness,” said Upendra P. Gadhvi, Chief Officer, Himatnagar Nagarpalika.
“Workers who once carried out high-risk manual tasks are now being upskilled to operate robots, marking a dignified shift in their roles. “Now, I don’t even have to go near the manhole. The gas sensors alert us before any danger, and the sealed system means no spillage. It’s safe and life-changing,” said an ERSU sanitation worker who now operates the robotic machine from Himatnagar.
Across India, Bandicoot has been deployed in over 300 cities across India, improving the lives of more than 3,000 sanitation workers. But Gujarat’s model of implementation—strategic, state-led, and socially committed—stands apart.
“Every city that has implemented Bandicoot has quietly advanced its sanitation game,” said Arun G, Director and Co-founder of Genrobotics. “We’re proud that our technology is part of Gujarat’s long-term urban vision, and even prouder of the human impact it brings.”
Encouraged by the results and the feedback from frontline workers, the Government of Gujarat is now planning statewide adoption of Bandicoot Mobility+, marking another significant step in its Urban Development Year—a step toward building a more humane and technologically empowered sanitation ecosystem for all.
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