The surveillance technology will use AI-ML algorithms to continuously analyse footage for user-defined events, sending real-time alerts for any suspicious activity
In a move poised to reshape Maharashtra’s hospitality industry, the state government has mandated the installation of AI- and machine-learning-enabled CCTV systems at the entrances of licensed bars and pubs. This high-tech surveillance system, aimed at enhancing security and monitoring, is to be implemented in all licensed establishments—excluding defense units—by order of the Maharashtra Home Department.
The new directive specifies that each venue must equip its entrance with a sophisticated AI-ML-based CCTV setup capable of detecting faces, analysing behavior, and recognizing objects in real time. Video feeds from each establishment will be transmitted around the clock to a central Command and Control Centre (C&CC) operated by the State Excise Commissionerate. Licensed premises are required to provide adequate space for this equipment, along with a stable 10Mbps broadband connection and uninterrupted power supply.
“This feels like Big Brother watching over us,” commented a pub owner in Mumbai, expressing concerns shared by many in the hospitality sector regarding the intrusive nature of the system.
The mandate applies to all licensed premises within Municipal Corporation areas and Police Commissioner jurisdictions. The announcement comes on the heels of the state’s upcoming Assembly elections in November, adding a layer of scrutiny to the timing of the directive.
The surveillance technology will use AI-ML algorithms to continuously analyze footage for user-defined events, sending real-time alerts for any suspicious activity. According to the government’s specifications, the system will include IP-based 5MP cameras, a network video recorder, a display, UPS, and an AI-ML Edge device powered by Raven-AI. The technology requirements mandate 24/7 high-definition recording, a minimum 2TB storage, mobile app compatibility, and tamper detection.
Vinod Tiwari, a Nagpur-based legal expert and president of the consumer group Grahak Bharati, voiced concerns over both the cost and timing of the policy. “Experts estimate that installing such a system could cost hundreds of crores of rupees, which the bar/pub owners would bill to the customers, and the state will recover it from the taxpayers. It might even lead to closure of many establishments, as customers would avoid such ‘Gestapo-style’ surveillance on their relaxation outings, with family or friends,” Tiwari told IANS.
While many establishments currently have CCTV systems, industry insiders worry that the advanced requirements could drive up costs or push customers towards unlicensed venues. Maharashtra’s hospitality sector, which includes approximately 20,000 licensed vendors from local pubs to five-star hotels, generated over Rs 23,000 crore in revenue in 2023, contributing significantly to the state’s economy.
A Mumbai hotelier remarked that the new mandate could impose significant operational expenses on venues already facing rising costs. “The additional capital and maintenance expenses could force customers away from compliant establishments to unregulated ones, adding to our challenges,” he said, adding that no official response has yet been issued by industry bodies.
The mandate, officially titled the “Maharashtra Installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) System Based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) At The Licensed Premises Order, 2024,” was issued by Deputy Secretary Ravindra Aute under the Maharashtra Prohibition Act of 1949.