Mumbai: The Mahayuti government has decided to pause the state excise department’s pilot project to install high-resolution CCTV cameras equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) at liquor shops and bars. The initiative aimed to prevent underage drinking by assessing how old the customers are through facial recognition.
About The Decision
The decision to introduce these AI-powered cameras was made during the tenure of former excise minister Shambhuraj Desai of the Shiv Sena. It followed two tragic accidents involving underage drivers under the influence of alcohol.
In Pune, a 17-year-old boy allegedly drove a Porsche, fatally hitting two bike-borne software engineers. In another incident, the son of a ruling Shiv Sena leader was involved in a fatal collision with a two-wheeler in Worli.
The pilot was initially planned for Mumbai, with a state-wide implementation based on its success. However, several challenges, coupled with logistical and financial concerns, led the state government to put the project on hold.
