TDB, Kapih Deep Tech Partner to Develop AI Digital Twin for Urban Water Systems

Under this initiative, TDB will provide conditional grant assistance of ₹4.07 crores, contributing to a total project cost of ₹5.82 crores.

In a step aimed at addressing India’s mounting urban water challenges through advanced technology, the Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, has entered into an agreement with M/s Kapih Deep Tech Private Limited, Pune for the project titled “Adaptive Digital Twin Framework for Urban Water Distribution Systems: A Conceptual Implementation Strategy for Indian Infrastructure.”

Funding Support and International Collaboration

Under this initiative, TDB will provide conditional grant assistance of ₹4.07 crores, contributing to a total project cost of ₹5.82 crores. The project is being developed under the India–Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F), in collaboration with the Israeli partner M/s Reali Technologies Ltd.

This bilateral collaboration strengthens India–Israel ties in the field of advanced technologies, particularly in the water sector, where both countries share similar concerns regarding sustainability, efficiency, and climate-resilient infrastructure.

The Digital Twin Concept for Water Systems

At the core of the project lies the development of an AI-driven adaptive digital twin framework, designed to:

• Simulate the functioning of urban water distribution networks in real-time.

• Monitor system performance through AI and cloud-based platforms.

• Predict disruptions, leakages, or inefficiencies before they escalate.

The system will be powered by the RealiteQ Cloud-based SCADA platform, enhanced with advanced analytics, offering a scalable, cost-effective solution tailored for Indian urban infrastructure.

Addressing India’s Water Sector Challenges

India’s urban water systems are facing acute stress due to:

• Aging pipelines and infrastructure, which lead to frequent breakdowns.

• High levels of non-revenue water (NRW)—losses due to leaks, theft, or inefficiencies.

• Fragmented and outdated monitoring systems, making it difficult to coordinate across departments.

• Resource inefficiencies that create bottlenecks in supply chains and waste precious water resources.

The adaptive digital twin framework aims to address these challenges by offering predictive maintenance tools, risk mitigation strategies, and data-driven insights that can help city administrators make faster, smarter decisions.

Pilot Deployments and Phased Rollout

To ensure scalability and wider adoption, the project will be implemented through multiple pilot deployments in select Indian cities. The phased rollout strategy has been designed to:

• Demonstrate real-world applicability of AI-enabled digital twin systems.

• Lower the initial costs of technology adoption for municipalities.

• Ease integration with legacy infrastructure, avoiding large-scale disruptions.

• Build confidence among civic authorities to gradually expand usage.

Institutional Support and Vision

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary, TDB, said: “India’s urban water systems face significant challenges that require innovative and technology-driven solutions. By supporting the development of adaptive digital twin frameworks, TDB is enabling scalable and practical tools that can enhance efficiency, reduce wastage, and make urban infrastructure more resilient.”

He emphasized that the collaboration aligns with the Government’s broader vision of “Digital India” and “Smart Cities”, while contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

Broader Impact and Future Potential

The introduction of AI-enabled digital twins in India’s water sector could prove transformative by:

• Reducing water losses and wastage significantly.

• Enhancing transparency in monitoring and billing.

• Creating more resilient, climate-proof urban water systems.

• Supporting sustainable urbanization under the Viksit Bharat @2047 roadmap.

If successful, the framework could also be replicated in sectors such as energy, transportation, and waste management, making it a pioneering model for AI-driven smart infrastructure in India.

The partnership between TDB, Kapih Deep Tech, and Reali Technologies reflects India’s commitment to leveraging global collaborations and indigenous innovation for solving its most pressing urban challenges.