Building a recurring inspection–cleaning–verification cycle for Chennai’s underground stormwater drains
PROJECT AT A GLANCE
A comprehensive overview of our engineering deployment and advanced asset digitisation efforts to sustain robust urban water networks.
- Client: Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC)
- Infrastructure: Underground stormwater drains
- Engagement: Ongoing recurring pre- and post-cleaning verification via robotic inspection
- Project Timeline: August 2025
- Technology: Endo250 + Swasth analytics
4 GCC Zones
Active Programme Coverage
Up to 100%
Pre-clean Debris at Severe Points
0–5%
Post-clean Residual Debris
THE SITUATION
For GCC, maintaining underground stormwater drains is not only about carrying out desilting. The bigger challenge is knowing what condition exists inside the drain before cleaning and whether the required section has actually been cleared afterwards.\n\nAcross the programme, settled sludge and debris emerged as the dominant recurring condition. Severity varied sharply: some stretches recorded moderate accumulation, while heavily affected drains reached 80–100% debris at sampled locations.\n\nHeavy sludge accumulation was repeatedly observed across inspected stormwater drain stretches, with several sections showing 80–100% debris at sampled points and others recording moderate but persistent accumulation.\n\n-Field condition reports
Solinas Pipeline Diagnostics
Data-Driven Infrastructure Intelligence
Robotic Inspection
Robotic internal inspection captured drain condition by distance / chainage, enabling teams to locate settled deposits before cleaning and document the residual condition after desilting.
Swasth AI
Inspection footage was converted into site-level condition records with inspection stage, defect type, chainage, severity grade and debris percentage where quantified — creating a recurring before/after history.
THE NETWORK CONDITIONS OBSERVED
Primary Use Case
Settled Deposit
Peak Blockage
Up to 100%
HIGH-SEVERITY CONDITIONS
Grade 4 – 5
NETWORK COVERAGE
0–5%
PIPELINE RANGE
808 m
KEY OBSERVATIONS
|
Zone 4: 55% to 80% -> 2% to 4%
|
Zone 5: 50% to 88% -> 0% to 5%
|
Zone 7: 10% to 55% -> 1% to 4%
|
Zone 9: 60% to 100% -> 2% to 4%
DEFECT CATEGORIES
Obstruction
0
%
Settled Deposits
0
%
Attached Deposits
0
%
Surface Damage
0
%
Infiltration
0
%
The robotic inspection methodology and digital dashboard insights significantly aided the Corporation in timely, transparent, and informed decision-making, while strengthening monitoring standards and quality assurance in stormwater drain maintenance works.
- Deputy Commissioner (Works), Greater Chennai Corporation
Chairman, BWSSB and MD, KPTCL, at the time of the statement
SOLINAS IMPACT
A direct comparison demonstrating how Solinas deep-tech robotic solutions redefine efficiency, safety, and precision in water infrastructure management over conventional methodologies.
Parameter
Conventional
With Solinas
Change
Investigation cost per confirmed issue
₹75,000
₹15,000
80% lower
Time to assess and verify an affected section
4 days
Under 1 day
3 days saved
Access points/openings per confirmed issue
6 exploratory openings
1 targeted access point
5 openings avoided
Lower Investigation Cost
0
%
Detection Time Saved
0
Days
Excavations Avoided
0
Pits
SOLINAS CASE STUDY
LOOKING AHEAD
Each inspection adds information to BWSSB’s water network records. The records can show where leakage, blockage and contamination occur repeatedly. They can also help BWSSB identify pipelines that need priority maintenance.
