---
title: "Pune engineer quits job to build ₹500 mosquito trap cutting dengue cycles"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/poona-engineer-qp-mosquito-trap-2is5m
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Science & Technology
published: 2026-08-21T14:03:27.434Z
modified: 2026-08-21T16:00:06.644Z
language: en-IN
---

# Pune engineer quits job to build ₹500 mosquito trap cutting dengue cycles

A Pune engineer founded Eco BioTrap, a biodegradable device that interrupts mosquito breeding. Deployed in Dharavi, it uses pyriproxyfen and simple materials to kill larvae, with fleets reaching thousands of homes.

## Key takeaways

- A Pune-based engineer quit a corporate job to pursue a biodegradable mosquito trap called Eco BioTrap (EBT).
- EBT uses recycled materials, a plant-based attractant, and pyriproxyfen to interrupt mosquito breeding without electricity.
- In Dharavi, the project deployed 3,000 EBTs per month, reaching about 10,000 households and 80,000 people over eight months with partners BMC and ICICI Foundation.
- Each trap costs around ₹500 and covers roughly 400 square feet; the traps are recyclable after use.

## What Happened

An Indian engineer, Prasad Phadke, left a corporate role to develop a mosquito-control device called Eco BioTrap (EBT). The trap is designed to attract female mosquitoes to lay eggs and then release an insect growth regulator to prevent larvae from becoming adults. The device is built from recycled corrugated-box waste, incorporates a plant-based attractant for insects, and uses pyriproxyfen as the growth regulator. It does not require electricity to operate. In a pilot in Dharavi, the project partnered with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and ICICI Foundation, deploying 3,000 EBT devices each month to roughly 10,000 households and 80,000 people across three pockets for eight months. The pilot reportedly yielded positive results and was highlighted for its user-friendliness, environmental safety, and the fact that it is a self-contained, energy-free solution. Today, each EBT is stated to cover about 400 square feet, costs approximately ₹500, and can be recycled after use.

## Why It Matters

The approach aims to halt the spread of mosquito-borne diseases by targeting the breeding cycle rather than solely killing adult mosquitoes. With a low-cost, electricity-free design and emphasis on environmental safety, the technology could offer a scalable option for communities facing dengue and malaria risks, especially in dense urban settings.

## Background

The concept emerged after the developers observed mosquito swarms in San Francisco and sought to address disease transmission by breaking generation cycles. The EBT project underwent multiple iterations over more than seven years and has pursued patents in more than 50 countries.

## Key Facts

- Founder: Prasad Phadke, who left his corporate role to pursue mosquito-control innovation.
- Name of device: Eco BioTrap (EBT).
- Materials: recycled corrugated-box waste, plant-based attractant, pyriproxyfen.
- Mechanism: lures female mosquitoes to lay eggs; growth regulator prevents larvae from maturing.
- Development duration: 7+ years with five iterations and patents in 50+ countries.
- Pilot location: Dharavi, Mumbai area.
- Partners in pilot: BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) and ICICI Foundation.
- Deployment scale during pilot: 3,000 EBTs per month.
- Reach of pilot: around 10,000 households and 80,000 people across three pockets.
- Pilot duration: eight months.
- Pilot outcomes: described as good, with emphasis on user-friendliness, environmental safety, and no electricity requirement.
- Current unit details: one EBT covers about 400 square feet; cost around ₹500; recyclable after use.

## What Happens Next

The material states the device is already deployed and evaluated in a pilot; there is no explicit scheduling of further deployments or scale-up details beyond the eight-month Dharavi pilot and the ongoing nature of the project as described. Additional steps or official timelines beyond the pilot are not provided in the available material.

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/poona-engineer-qp-mosquito-trap-2is5m
Reported from: Multiple Sources