The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to introduce an artificial intelligence-based system to better manage the health, movement and behaviour of stray dogs in Mumbai. The project will begin with the tracking of 10,000 stray dogs across the city. The initiative will be carried out through a public-private partnership involving private companies, non-governmental organisations and a startup.
Under the system, stray dogs will first be photographed to create unique identification profiles. After vaccination and sterilisation, the animals will be fitted with special sensors. These sensors will help track their movement and activity over time.
Data for the system will be collected from multiple sources. These include CCTV cameras, drones, smartphone applications and photographs taken manually. The AI platform will analyse this information to understand movement patterns, identify areas with high stray dog populations and locate zones where attacks are more likely to occur.
Officials said the system works in a manner similar to biometric attendance, but for animals. It will allow faster handling of public complaints and better planning of vaccination and sterilisation drives. The data will also help authorities respond more quickly to issues related to stray dogs.
The pilot project is expected to be ready and operational by May 2026. As per sources, preparations are underway for the pilot project. The new AI platform aims to address this gap by creating a database that allows individual identification and real-time monitoring.
Beyond population control, they will also monitor the health of stray dogs. This includes tracking signs of illness, behavioural changes and possible mental health concerns. The data will help improve overall stray dog management in the city.
Mumbai currently has an estimated 95,000 stray dogs. Every year, the city records between 75,000 and 80,000 dog bite cases. By identifying high-risk zones and optimising the use of resources, the system will improve dog control across Mumbai.
The BMC’s Public Health Department will oversee the initiative. The selected startup will be responsible for designing and implementing the AI system in coordination with civic authorities.