The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has cancelled a Rs 6.4 million tender for robotic water rescue devices following political opposition over the vendor sourcing the products from Turkey. The move comes amid heightened scrutiny of Ankara’s alleged support for Pakistan during recent border tensions with India.

The tender, issued in September 2023, aimed to procure six remote-controlled rescue robots for the Mumbai Fire Brigade, intended for deployment across six high-risk beaches—Girgaon, Dadar, Juhu, Versova, Aksa, and Gorai—particularly to aid lifeguards during the monsoon season.

Each robotic buoy, branded as ‘Maren Fasty’ by Turkish company Maren Robotics, had a carrying capacity of 200 kilograms and a top speed of 18 kmph. The devices were to be supplied by an Indian vendor importing them from Turkey.

However, objections were raised by political leaders including BJP’s Bhalchandra Shirsat, SP’s Rais Shaikh, and Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sachin Padwal, who cited national security concerns due to Turkey’s alleged military ties with Pakistan. This prompted BMC to reassess the order.

A senior BMC official confirmed that the Letter of Approval (LoA) had not been issued and that the civic body has the authority to cancel the tender in light of the evolving geopolitical scenario. The official added that the tender would be reissued with a preference for domestically manufactured rescue equipment, which is also expected to be more cost-effective over time.

Reports indicate that similar rescue robots have already been acquired by other civic agencies in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

BJP’s Shirsat welcomed the cancellation, stressing the importance of prioritising Indian innovation in critical sectors like public safety and security infrastructure.

The backlash against Turkish imports reflects a broader public sentiment, with calls to boycott Turkish goods and tourism rising after Ankara was accused of siding with Islamabad during the diplomatic standoff with New Delhi.