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Maharashtra Scraps Plan for Age-Detection AI Cameras in Liquor Shops and Bars - Here's Why

The project involved setting up a control room to monitor over 2,000 liquor shops and permit rooms in Mumbai.

Maharashtra Scraps Plan for Age-Detection AI Cameras in Liquor Shops and Bars - Here's Why
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The Maharashtra government has decided to halt the Excise Department’s experimental project to install high-resolution CCTV cameras with artificial intelligence. These cameras were designed to determine a customer’s age using facial recognition. The decision comes after objections from shop owners and questions about the feasibility of the plan.  

The project was estimated to cost INR 4.5 lakh for each camera installation. This expense was a major concern for shop owners, who found the investment too high.

The project involved setting up a control room to monitor over 2,000 liquor shops and permit rooms in Mumbai. If successful, it was planned to expand the project across the state to cover around 7,000 establishments. Questions were also raised about the availability of cameras that met the required parameters. It was noted that only one vendor was supplying these cameras. This exclusivity came under scrutiny during a recent review. 

The project had been initiated during the tenure of former state excise minister Shambhuraj Desai. A meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar last week reviewed the project. The high cost of installation was discussed first, followed by questions about its practical implementation. Then, it was decided to halt the project for the time being. 

The experimental project will reportedly not proceed further at this time. However, no formal orders have been issued to rescind the decision. 

The decision to install the cameras initially was influenced by two high-profile accidents. In May 2024, a teenager in Pune’s Kalyani Nagar drove a Porsche while intoxicated, killing two software engineers on bikes. A month later, in Mumbai’s Worli area, a high-end car driven by the son of a Shiv Sena leader struck a two-wheeler, leading to a woman’s death. 

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