Planys Technologies, a deep-tech startup emerging from the corridors of IIT Madras, is redefining the way underwater infrastructure is inspected and secured. Founded in 2015 by alumni Tanuj Jhunjhunwala and Vineet Upadhyay, Planys has evolved from a campus research initiative into a globally recognized innovator in underwater non-destructive testing (NDT), robotics, and AI-enabled analytics.
What began as a response to glaring gaps in traditional underwater inspection—often manual, high-risk, or entirely omitted—has grown into a full-stack technology platform that is helping sectors as diverse as oil & gas, shipping, ports, dams, railways, and defence gain critical insight into the health of submerged assets.
“Imagine a world without X-rays or MRIs in healthcare,” says Tanuj Jhunjhunwala, CEO of Planys. “That was the state of infrastructure inspections underwater.”
The company’s core innovation lies in integrating custom-developed remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) with advanced NDT tools and proprietary AI software that processes data into actionable insights. Users access a dynamic visual dashboard that enables precise condition monitoring and preventive maintenance—essential for extending asset lifespans and ensuring operational safety.
Having completed over 450 underwater inspection projects across 10 countries, the company has flagged more than 10,000 critical issues to clients such as Reliance, Shell, Indian Railways, and the Port of Rotterdam. With over 30 patents and 12 indigenous products, Planys is not just building hardware but creating a digital-first ecosystem for infrastructure intelligence below the surface.
Backed by $7.5 million in funding from investors including Ashish Kacholia, Samarthya Investment, and Kris Gopalakrishnan, the company is now expanding its footprint in both civil and defence sectors. Under India’s IDEX programme, Planys is developing AUVs tailored for strategic applications such as mine countermeasures, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and port security.
“Deep tech requires deep trust. It’s a long game, but the impact is profound,” reflects Jhunjhunwala.
With a multidisciplinary team of over 120 professionals across engineering, data science, and field operations, Planys is looking to scale globally while continuing to innovate. The company’s growth strategy hinges on tackling a vast market—India alone has more than 5,000 dams, 300,000+ bridges, and nearly 200 ports in need of consistent and safe underwater monitoring.
Planys’ ability to deliver an end-to-end solution in a space fragmented by diver-based inspection firms and isolated robotic OEMs has been its biggest competitive edge. Still, challenges persist, particularly around regulatory approvals and scaling operations without compromising service quality.
As the global underwater infrastructure inspection market grows—estimated to surpass $60 billion annually—Planys is positioning itself not only as a solutions provider but as the new standard in subsea infrastructure diagnostics and maritime defence technology.
In the near future, the company aims to accelerate its defence manufacturing capabilities while expanding its inspection services across new geographies. The long-term vision: to establish itself as the global benchmark for underwater integrity management.
Reference: https://yourstory.com/2025/05/planys-redefining-underwater-inspection-and-mariti
