BMC scraps plan to buy Turkey-made robotic lifebuoys amid backlash over Pak support

Bhushan Gagrani, the municipal commissioner, confirmed the scrapping of the plan.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) decided to cancel its plan buy Turkey-manufactured robotic lifebuoys that were supposed to be deployed in six beaches, the civic body officials said on June 2.

The move comes amid backlash against Turkey over its support for Pakistan.

The rescue machines that can be operated remotely and were designed to assist lifeguards in saving people from drowning, were to be deployed at Girgaum Chowpatty, Shivaji Park Dadar, Juhu, Versova, Aksa, and Gorai beaches.

Bhushan Gagrani, the municipal commissioner, confirmed the scrapping of the plan.

As per the officials, each unit of the machine was equipped with dual water jets, a 10,000 mAh rechargeable battery, and had the capacity to carry up to 200 kg. It could travel 800 metres into the sea at speeds up to 18 km/h and operate for about an hour.

After Turkey extended diplomatic and military support to Islamabad during the last month's military confrontation between India and Pakistan, the civic body faced strong criticism from political parties for the deal.

Political leaders, including of the ruling BJP and its ally Shiv Sena, had questioned the procurement of the equipment from foreign supplier instead of promoting indigenous alternatives.

Turkey's open support to Pakistan in the wake of Operation Sindoor, India's military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, triggered broader domestic calls for a boycott of goods made in the Eurasian country.