The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will introduce QR code-enabled reflective collars for stray dogs that have been vaccinated against rabies and sterilised, in a move aimed at improving identification, digital record-keeping and tracking across the city.
The initiative is being undertaken in line with Supreme Court directions, under Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide and Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Prajakta Verma-Lavangare, the civic body said.
The BMC on Aug. 20 signed an agreement with the Ridlan AI Foundation at its headquarters to implement the system. Deputy Commissioner (Special) Vinayak Vispute, Veterinary Health Department head Kalim Pasha Pathan and Ridlan AI Foundation's Akshay Ridlan were among those present.
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How Does The QR Code Work
The QR-linked collars will give civic teams a more durable way to identify dogs that have already undergone anti-rabies vaccination and sterilisation. At present, vaccinated stray dogs are often marked with coloured ink or other temporary identifiers, which can fade over time.
Scanning the QR code will allow authorised users to access digitally recorded information on an individual dog, including its vaccination and sterilisation status. The system is expected to help field teams avoid repeat procedures, identify gaps in coverage and improve coordination with veterinary and animal welfare groups.
The reflective collars will also make the animals easier to identify physically, including in low-light conditions, while creating a more consistent database for future interventions.
The initiative forms part of the BMC's stray dog management and rabies-prevention programme, as Mumbai works towards its goal of becoming rabies-free by 2030.
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