Bengaluru’s AI street-surveillance plan stalls amid officials’ privacy pushback

A ₹3-crore project to mount AI-enabled cameras on civic vehicles has been halted after senior officials of the new Greater Bengaluru Authority raised privacy concerns.

A major technology-driven upgrade to Bengaluru’s civic monitoring system has been halted following strong resistance from senior officials within the newly formed Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). The project proposed equipping corporation vehicles with AI-powered cameras capable of identifying potholes, unauthorised hoardings, overflowing garbage and other on-ground issues in real time.

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Initially cleared by the chief secretary earlier this year, the ₹3-crore initiative aimed to attach cameras to civic vehicles that would continuously capture road and street visuals. An automated AI system would scan these images, detect civic lapses and instantly generate digital complaints to the relevant departments. The model promised faster response times, fewer manual delays and continuous citywide tracking of urban conditions.

Before the restructuring from BBMP to GBA, the previous administration had issued work orders in August, and the contracted vendor had already delivered the first lot of 30 camera units. The rollout was designed to begin with 250 vehicles belonging to senior officials, later expanding to junior officers and the wider fleet.

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However, the administrative transition has brought the project to a standstill. Several senior officials have raised objections, arguing that the system would record their routes and daily movements, creating a detailed digital footprint of their travel. They noted that while civic monitoring is essential, continuous vehicle surveillance undermines personal autonomy and creates concerns that extend beyond service delivery. According to them, such cameras would not only flag potholes but also map every kilometre driven by officials.

With privacy and surveillance concerns growing, particularly as the city struggles with recurring potholes and urban maintenance gaps, the project has been quietly shelved for the time being.