The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken a significant step toward establishing Mumbai’s first municipally managed shelter for stray dogs, inviting non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to participate in the project’s development and operation. The move follows recent directives from the Supreme Court regarding the removal of stray dogs from public spaces, giving fresh momentum to long-pending plans.
The proposed facility will be located in Malwani, Malad, and will span nearly seven acres (around 30,000 sq m) in the western suburbs. Designed as a comprehensive animal care centre, the shelter is expected to include kennels, isolation wards, operating theatres, post-operative recovery units, and dedicated feeding areas. In addition, the facility will incorporate modern features such as digital tracking and reporting systems to monitor the health and movement of animals.
Through an Expression of Interest (EoI), the BMC has sought partnerships with NGOs that can help build, manage, and maintain the shelter. The initiative marks a shift from the city’s existing approach to stray dog management, which has largely relied on sterilisation drives followed by releasing animals back into their original habitats.
According to a joint study conducted by the BMC and an NGO, titled “Evaluation of Street Dog Population Management and Sterilisation Impact,” Mumbai currently has an estimated 90,757 stray dogs. This figure reflects a slight reduction from over 95,000 recorded in 2014, indicating some success in ongoing population control measures.
The upcoming shelter is expected to enhance the city’s ability to manage stray animals more effectively while addressing concerns related to public safety and animal welfare. By creating a dedicated space with medical and rehabilitation facilities, civic authorities aim to strike a balance between humane treatment and urban management needs.
The project represents a notable shift in policy, signalling a more structured and infrastructure-led approach to handling Mumbai’s stray animal population.
Source: The Indian Express
