Chennai 2.0: AI Now Holds the Keys to the City’s Reservoirs

The Tamil Nadu government has launched the Integrated Reservoir Management Centre (IRMC) in Chennai to strengthen flood preparedness and improve coordinated reservoir operations.

Inaugurated on 6 January 2026 at the Indian Coast Guard Campus, the IRMC has been developed by Canarys Automations and is powered by an Autonomous Reservoir Decision-Making System (ARDMS). The system integrates flood early-warning mechanisms, SCADA-enabled gate controls, IoT-based monitoring, and AI-driven decision intelligence to manage Chennai’s three major reservoirs—Poondi, Chembarabakkam, and Red Hills. By enabling real-time, data-driven operational decisions, the platform supports controlled water releases and reduces flood risks during extreme weather events.

“The commissioning of ARDMS marks a transition from manual, reactive dam operations to a proactive and climate-resilient water management framework,” said Shyam Mantha of Canarys Automations. The platform is designed to be scalable and can be extended to other reservoirs across Tamil Nadu, contributing to long-term urban flood resilience and enhanced water security across the state.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.