The Bengaluru South City Corporation has launched a pilot project using artificial intelligence to identify road and public-space problems, with an initial survey covering 75 km of roads under its jurisdiction.
The AI-based vehicle inspection system uses cameras and GPS devices mounted on a vehicle travelling through the city. It captures photographs and video footage, which the system analyses to identify issues including potholes, footpath encroachments, garbage dumps, construction debris, dangling cables and broken manholes, the civic body said.
Each issue detected during the survey is automatically recorded as a complaint ticket with its GPS location. The ticket is then routed to the relevant ward’s Assistant Executive Engineer and the departments concerned for action.
After officials inspect and rectify an issue, they are required to close the ticket by uploading photographs showing the site before and after the work, Bengaluru South City Corporation Commissioner KN Ramesh said. The system is intended to help the civic body identify problems proactively rather than waiting for residents to file complaints.
The corporation said the technology could also be used for other enforcement and administrative purposes if the pilot produces convincing results. These include property tax revision, detection of building norm violations and identifying the unauthorised commercial use of basements.
Under building-use rules, basements are intended to be used for vehicle parking. The civic body said the AI cameras could identify basements that have been converted into commercial outlets. The system may also detect unauthorised shops, advertising boards and Bescom poles encroaching on pedestrian pathways, after which the relevant officials would be directed to take action.
The pilot places road inspection, complaint registration and departmental follow-up within a single digital workflow. Its effectiveness will depend on whether the visual system can accurately identify and categorise problems, whether officials verify the findings on site, and whether rectification is completed within a reasonable period.
The corporation has not announced a wider rollout schedule. Commissioner Ramesh said the project would be scaled up if the pilot delivers convincing results.
