MCD plans citywide dog survey through microchipping under rabies-free roadmap

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is mulling a citywide survey of dogs through microchipping and expansion of its sterilisation infrastructure under a four-year roadmap aimed at making the capital rabies-free.

The proposed microchipping exercise, scheduled to begin in a few weeks, is intended to establish the actual population of dogs in Delhi, which officials said is crucial for planned sterilisation, anti-rabies vaccination, and effective monitoring of programmes.

Senior MCD officials said the civic body is in advanced discussions with a non-Governmental organisation (NGO) to carry out the large-scale microchipping exercise, adding that the selected NGO will use CSR funds to conduct the drive. Estimates of expenses and methodology for the survey have also been sought from the said NGO.

“If the task is taken up by the NGO, it will save funds of the corporation, which will be further used to strengthen veterinary services across the city,” a senior official said.

The number of specialised agencies which can undertake such a broad exercise is low, which has resulted in the stalling of the process, officials said, adding that the civic body is preparing a tender for the exercise, which may be floated in a month.

According to officials, the last time MCD conducted a dog survey was in 2016, when the exercise was carried out in four administrative zones (South, West, Central and West) under the erstwhile South Delhi Corporation and roughly 1,90,000 dogs were enumerated.

Senior officials from the veterinary department said the current dog population in the capital is likely to be around 10 lakh or more.

The civic body also plans to significantly expand its Animal Birth Control (ABC) infrastructure by increasing kennel capacity and setting up new centres across the city to step up sterilisation and immunisation of stray dogs, officials said.

According to official data, the MCD has sterilised and immunised 1,31,137 dogs during 2024-25. The number stood at 1,01,394 in 2025-26.

In the current financial year, 16,124 dogs have been sterilised and immunised till May, with 7,972 procedures carried out in April, and 8,152 in May.

Officials said new kennels are under construction at the Bijwasan, Bela Road, Rohini and Usmanpur ABC centres. The expansion at Bijwasan will double the capacity of the facility.

At Bela Road, 35 new kennels are being built over the existing capacity of around 850 dogs, while 45 new kennels are under construction at Rohini, which currently has a capacity of around 1,700 dogs. Another 35 kennels are being added at Usmanpur, where the existing capacity is around 1,200-1,300 dogs, officials said, adding that the expansion is expected to double the capacity.

According to officials, the ABC centre at Prahladpur, with a capacity of 600-750 dogs, has received in-principle approval from the Delhi Government and is expected to be taken over by the Government.

The MCD is also considering developing an integrated animal care facility on a five-to-six acre plot at Mukundpur near Bhalswa.

“The proposed complex will house an Animal Birth Control centre, a dog shelter and a crematorium, with an estimated capacity of around 4,000 dogs,” an official said, adding that the proposed facility will only take off when land clearance is received by the civic body.

“Initial due diligence suggests some portion of the land is part of Bhalswa lake area, and we are still in the process of finalising the details,” a senior official said.

Officials said facilities at Ghazipur and Kanjhawala in Narela are also part of the proposed expansion plan.

The civic body is also working towards securing project recognition certificates for its ABC centres from the Animal Welfare Board of India, a mandatory requirement under the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, for carrying out sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination programmes.

Officials said 14 centres have received project recognition, while applications for two more are in the pipeline.