22 June,2026 01:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
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Entry to the Maharashtra legislature complex will be regulated through a face-recognition system from Tuesday, with Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar announcing a one-day exemption for journalists, government officials and employees who have not yet completed the registration process.
The announcement was made on the opening day of the monsoon session of the Maharashtra legislature, where Narwekar informed members that the procedure for implementing the new access-control mechanism had been finalised.
The move is part of efforts to streamline entry procedures and enhance security within the Vidhan Bhavan complex.
Addressing the House, Narwekar said the registration process for legislators was nearing completion and that the majority of members had already been enrolled in the face-recognition system.
"Accordingly, it has been decided that entry to the Vidhan Bhavan will be through the face recognition system. The face recognition of most MLAs has been completed so far, and their entry is taking place smoothly," he said.
Officials have been carrying out the registration process over the past few weeks to ensure that elected representatives can access the legislature premises without disruption once the system becomes fully operational.
While the rollout has largely progressed as planned, Narwekar acknowledged that some journalists, officers and employees had been unable to complete the registration process due to technical difficulties.
As a result, authorities decided to grant temporary relief to those affected on Monday to ensure that legislative work and media coverage were not disrupted.
"Therefore, journalists, officers and employees whose face recognition has not been completed have been granted relaxation today and have been allowed entry based on their identity cards," he said.
The exemption was limited to the first day of the session and was intended to accommodate individuals facing registration-related issues.
According to the Speaker, entry through the face-recognition mechanism will become mandatory from Tuesday for all authorised individuals entering the legislature complex.
The system is expected to replace the existing access process for legislators, officials, employees and accredited journalists, subject to successful registration.
Authorities believe the technology will help improve security management, verify identities more efficiently and reduce the possibility of unauthorised access to the premises.
The introduction of the face-recognition system coincides with the commencement of the legislature's monsoon session, one of the key sessions of the year during which several important policy and legislative matters are expected to be discussed.
The Vidhan Bhavan complex witnesses heavy movement of legislators, government officials, staff members, media personnel and visitors during legislative sessions, making access management a significant administrative responsibility.
With the new system set to take effect from Tuesday, authorities are expected to complete the remaining registrations and address technical issues to ensure a smooth transition to the technology-driven entry process.
(With inputs from PTI)
