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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to integrate videography and artificial intelligence (AI) technology into the desilting of city drains ahead of this year’s monsoon. This initiative aims to enhance transparency and prevent malpractices in the process.
The decision follows a review meeting held at Vidhan Bhavan on March 4, where Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis evaluated infrastructure and development projects worth ₹1.41 lakh crore. During the meeting, he emphasized the need for AI integration in drain cleaning to ensure timely and efficient completion of the work.
Abhijit Bangar, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects), explained that significant changes are being introduced to improve monitoring and efficiency. One such measure is replacing static photographs with dynamic videography, allowing stakeholders to track the desilting process more effectively. For minor drains, complete video documentation of their entire length will be conducted.
In addition, AI-powered video analytics will be deployed to detect and prevent irregularities in desilting. “For instance, if construction debris or rocks are being dumped instead of silt, the AI system will identify these anomalies. Given the large number of trucks involved, manually monitoring each one is challenging. AI will help flag discrepancies in real time, ensuring that only the correct materials are removed from the drains,” Bangar explained.
The AI system will alert on-site officials immediately if any irregularities are detected, enabling swift verification and corrective action. This approach is expected to significantly reduce fraud and enhance the efficiency of desilting operations.
To implement these technological upgrades, BMC plans to collaborate with a specialized agency. “By leveraging AI and videography, the stormwater drains department aims to strengthen quality control and optimize desilting operations ahead of the monsoon season,” Bangar added.
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