BMC to Put QR Code Reflective Collars on Mumbai Stray Dogs to Track Vaccination

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on Thursday launched a technology-based initiative to introduce QR code-enabled reflective collars for stray dogs across Mumbai. The collars are designed to simplify the physical identification and digital tracking of sterilised and rabies-vaccinated canines throughout the city.

The civic body signed an agreement with the Ridlan AI Foundation at the BMC headquarters to execute the digital tracking project. Ridlan AI Foundation is a Mumbai-based non-profit organisation that applies artificial intelligence and digital technology to tackle social and animal welfare issues.

The move complies with directives issued by the Supreme Court regarding the systematic sterilisation and vaccination of stray dogs, along with mandatory record-keeping and monitoring. By scanning the QR codes on the reflective collars, civic authorities will be able to quickly verify whether a stray dog has been vaccinated against rabies and sterilised, while maintaining updated digital records.

The agreement was signed under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide and led by Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Prajakta Verma-Lavangare.

Several key civic officials were present at the signing event, including Deputy Commissioner (Special) Vinayak Vispute, Head of the Veterinary Health Department Dr Kalim Pasha Pathan, and Akshay Ridlan from the Ridlan AI Foundation, along with other officers and personnel from the Veterinary Health Department.

Civic authorities expect the QR-enabled collars to streamline administrative workflows for field teams and improve the long-term, systematic monitoring of Mumbai's stray dog population.