Mumbai: AI cameras installed by BMC in Mahim faces concerns over false alerts

The AI-enabled camera installed by the BMC

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has installed an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled camera at a garbage-vulnerable point near Gajanan Vatika in Mahim to deter open dumping. But while the initiative has received a positive response from some locals, a mid-day test raised questions about how accurately the system identifies littering.

During a visit to the spot, the camera's audio warning was triggered repeatedly as the reporter moved in and out of its surveillance zone, including when carrying no garbage bag. The test raises concerns about false alerts, particularly at night.

Garbage dumped at a spot close to the area monitored by the BMC's new AI camera

The initiative also faces another challenge: people accustomed to dumping waste at the spot were seen moving to other sides of the triangular garden to dispose of their garbage.

How the camera is supposed to work

According to the civic body, the AI-enabled camera identifies people approaching a garbage-vulnerable point to dispose of waste and issues an immediate audio warning asking them not to litter.

The cleaned-up dumping spot in Mahim, where the BMC has installed an AI-enabled camera to deter littering. Pics/Shadab Khan

The installation is part of the BMC's efforts to tackle recurring garbage dumping at public locations. The civic body has indicated that it plans to install similar cameras at other locations across Mumbai.

What mid-day found

>> The site was clean: The BMC had cleared the area before installing the camera.

>> Warnings could be triggered by movement: The announcement played repeatedly when the reporter walked through the surveillance zone without a garbage bag.

>> Dumping appeared to shift: People who stopped disposing of waste at the monitored spot were seen moving to other sides of the triangular garden.

Garbage bags accumulate at spots a little away from the BMC's new AI-enabled anti-littering camera in Mahim. Pics/Shadab Khan

>> Garbage accumulated nearby: Over about 40 minutes, a spot that initially had one garbage bag accumulated another five or six, according to the reporter's observation.

>> Collection delays persisted: Residents and waste collectors said they had to wait for the garbage collection truck.

BMC's response

mid-day contacted the civic body seeking clarification on what the camera's AI detects, as well as on residents' concerns about the announcement volume, garbage collection delays and dumping shifting to nearby locations. The BMC had not responded by press time.

Resident Speak

‘The announcement was loud and startling'

Naresh Jain, who runs a business opposite the spot, said the camera initially deterred people from dumping waste. However, its announcement volume became a concern.

‘The authorities installed the cameras yesterday, and we were very intrigued by it. People had actually been deterred by the announcements from the camera. But on Wednesday, the volume of the announcement was very loud and startling. When the locals told the authorities, they came and fixed it by lowering the volume," he said.

The lower volume appeared manageable during the day amid traffic noise. However, residents are concerned about whether the announcements could disturb them at night'

‘Increase the frequency of garbage collection'

Minal Patil, who lives in a building opposite the spot, waited from 4 pm to 4.35 pm on Thursday with her household waste after a civic worker stationed there asked her to wait for the collection truck. ‘Our household consumes fish on a daily basis, and the waste that comes from the cooking, if kept in the house, becomes very stinky. So if the authorities want us to not dispose of it in the spots we have been, then they have to increase the frequency of the garbage pick-ups, and a time frame of when the trucks will be coming will be helpful'

‘I waited for two hours'

A woman, A woman who works at a nearby building collecting garbage said she had waited for two hours for the truck, but it did not arrive ‘I waited here for 2 hours for the truck to come, but it didn't. The official here told me that the truck might be stuck in traffic. If that is the case, then we need more trucks to come. The initiative is great, but at the same time, the locals of the area have been asked to forget a habit they have developed over 2 to 3 decades. That is a hard change'

‘If it works, other areas will benefit'

Sunil Lakshman Parab, Local resident welcomed the initiative but said its success would depend on addressing the implementation gaps.

‘If this thing works out, the implementation of this in other areas will be very helpful for the city. We have multiple spots which need such care. If issues such as new spots popping up and low frequency are tackled by the authorities, there will be no looking back for us'