The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a new tender to procure six remote-controlled robotic water rescue vehicles. The offer is limited to Indian manufacturers or their dealers.
The new deployment will cover six major beaches in the city. Robotic lifebuoys will be stationed at Girgaon, Dadar, Juhu, Versova, Gorai, and Aksa. These devices will support the 111 lifeguards currently posted across Mumbai.
The Mumbai Fire Brigade will operate the robotic lifebuoys. The machines will help with drowning rescue operations by reducing the need for lifeguards to enter the water in emergencies. It will be a quick-response tool for emergency services.
According to the procurement rules, only Indian manufacturers or their authorised dealers can participate. Firms must also show proof of completing similar projects for government bodies or public sector units in the last seven years.
A previous tender was cancelled in June after controversy started over the chosen firm’s connection with Turkey during the India-Pakistan crisis in May. The tender had selected an Indian company to supply robotic lifebuoys made by Maren Robotics, a Turkish firm. At that time, Pakistan was reported to have used Turkish drones. This led to criticism across political parties.
Features:
Each robotic lifebuoy comes with advanced features. The vehicles are fitted with cameras and robotic arms that can help locate victims and examine underwater areas. They have a carrying capacity of 200 kilograms and can travel at a maximum speed of 18 kilometres per hour.
The design includes a central beam and hand belts so victims can hold on while being brought to safety. Remote operation from the shore allows rescuers to guide the device to people in distress without entering the water.