In a significant move to address public safety and animal welfare, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched a novel pilot project leveraging artificial intelligence to survey and manage stray dogs across critical public spaces in Mumbai. This initiative comes in direct response to a Supreme Court directive issued on November 7, which mandated the removal of stray canines from the premises of educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus depots, and railway stations.
AI-Powered Enumeration for Effective Management
The civic body has partnered with a homegrown startup, Indicare AI, which was incubated under the BMC's own Society for Mumbai Incubation Lab to Entrepreneurship (SMILE) programme. This startup has been awarded the pilot project, with the initial phase focusing on the enumeration and identification of dogs found within sensitive public institutions like hospitals and railway stations.
Field researchers are now using a dedicated mobile application to capture images and data of stray dogs. The core of the technology lies in its AI-enabled image recognition system, which assigns a unique digital ID to each dog. This smart system effectively eliminates duplication if the same animal is recorded multiple times along a similar route. Furthermore, the application enables precise geo-tagging of each dog's location, creating a digital map of their presence.
"Currently, there is no accurate data on how many stray dogs are present in sensitive public spaces like hospital compounds. This survey will help establish a clear baseline," explained a civic official. The survey also records crucial health details, such as whether a dog has been vaccinated or sterilised. This information will be vital for the BMC's veterinary department to plan targeted vaccination and sterilisation drives in the future.
A Phased and Multidisciplinary Approach
Officials stated that the pilot is being implemented on a limited scale, adhering to standard incubation protocols under the SMILE programme. A small area and select high-priority locations were chosen to rigorously test the technology, assess its effectiveness, and validate the software before considering a wider city-wide rollout.
The project brings together a multidisciplinary team including zoologists and animal caregivers, ensuring the process is humane and scientifically sound. All collected data will be shared with the BMC's veterinary department, which is responsible for animal health and sterilisation programmes. Based on the pilot's findings, the civic body will execute necessary interventions where required.
Future Roadmap and Potential Expansion
The pilot project is expected to be completed within three to four months. Notably, Indicare AI has applied for a patent for its innovative AI-based geotagging technology. Civic officials have indicated that if the pilot proves successful, the project's scope could be significantly expanded. This would allow the BMC to cover larger areas of Mumbai and aid in planning shelters and formulating long-term, data-driven strategies for stray dog management.
This AI-driven initiative marks a modern, tech-forward attempt by India's financial capital to tackle a persistent urban challenge, balancing judicial directives with animal welfare and public health concerns.
