Minister D Sridhar Babu on Saturday formally launched ‘Project SHUDH’, an AI-powered sewer governance platform developed by Hyderabad-based deep-tech startup The Bot Factory under the guidance of the All India Robotics Association (AIRA). Sridhar described the project as a pioneering innovation demonstrating how advanced technologies can address critical urban challenges, stating that Telangana had emerged as a leading destination for innovation, startups and emerging technologies. He said the project could benefit civic agencies such as HMWSSB and GHMC by identifying drain blockages, generating alerts and providing data for predictive analytics, potentially improving drainage management and reducing overflow incidents. HMWSSB managing director K Ashok Reddy said trials had shown promising results and the department plans a pilot deployment before scaling up the platform based on its performance. The Bot Factory Robotics head, Nihitha, said Project SHUDH marks a shift from sewer cleaning to sewer governance by digitally tracking and analysing sewer interventions, aiming to enable smarter management of underground infrastructure and eliminate human entry into sewers and manholes.