Urban India is increasingly embracing artificial intelligence to tackle various civic issues, such as managing stray cattle, detecting water loss, and improving sanitation. Several cities are leveraging AI-powered solutions to enhance urban governance and make cities more sustainable and efficient.
In Surat, the municipal corporation uses an AI-driven video surveillance system to detect unattended cattle on roads, generating alerts for rapid response teams. Over 1,545 incidents have been detected, with ₹18.4 lakh collected as penalties. Pune Municipal Corporation employs a digital twin technology to detect non-revenue water (NRW) caused by pipe leakages and unauthorized consumption. A pilot project in Panchawati reduced NRW to 25%, with plans to expand to other zones.
Surat also uses AI-powered Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems to identify littering and spitting offenses, capturing evidence and imposing fines. Over 47,000 violations were detected, resulting in ₹25 lakh in collected fines. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad) has deployed an AI-powered chatbot in Marathi and English to assist residents with civic queries, covering services like birth certificates and property tax payments.
AI-based integrated traffic management systems (ITMS) are being implemented in several cities, including Surat, to monitor traffic flow, detect red-light violations, and identify helmetless riders. These AI-powered solutions are expected to improve efficiency, enable data-driven decision-making, and predict and mitigate urban challenges.
The Central Government's Smart City Mission and Safe City project are promoting the use of AI-based technologies, and more cities are expected to adopt these solutions. By leveraging AI, cities can become more resilient, sustainable, and livable, improving the quality of life for residents.
