Swachh city to go for scientific & sustainable sanitation upgrade with AI & IoT

Indore: The country’s cleanest city, is set to strengthen its sanitation system further using artificial intelligence and internet of things technologies. The Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) and the Indian Institute of Management, Indore (IIM-I), will jointly undertake research and technical collaboration in water, sanitation and solid waste management over the next two years.The proposal was approved by the Mayor-in-Council under the chairmanship of mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava, an official release said.The Centre of Excellence at IIM-I and the corporation will carry out a scientific, phase-wise study of the city’s sanitation system. The aim is to make Indore’s sanitation model more technology-driven, effective and equipped to meet future needs.In the first phase, from Aug to Dec 2026, the solid waste management system will undergo scientific evaluation, the efficiency of door-to-door garbage collection and transportation will be studied, and the possibilities of reusing treated wastewater will be assessed.In the second phase, from Sept 2026 to March 2027, new financial models will be prepared for the operation of public toilets. Alongside this, an IoT-based sewerage monitoring system will be tested, and a database of innovations and new technologies related to waste management will be developed.The third phase, from April to Sept 2027, will focus on institutional capacity building. The possibilities of developing an AI-based forecasting and decision-support system will be studied to enable better planning of water, sanitation and waste management in line with future requirements.

Mayor Bhargava said Indore has consistently led the country in cleanliness. “Our goal now is to take this model to new heights through technology, research and innovation. This partnership with IIM-I will develop smart, AI-based solutions that will make the city’s sanitation system more scientific, transparent and sustainable. We are confident that the model developed here will also serve as a guide for other cities across the country,” he said.