Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has identified 67 designated dog feeding points in each ward to regulate stray dog feeding and reduce public inconvenience caused by multiple feeding spots.It will roll out the initiative in phases beginning with a pilot project in four wards each across its three administrative zones. Official sources said the move is aimed at streamlining feeding practices by animal lovers and voluntary dog feeders while addressing complaints related to stray dog congregations in residential areas.According to BMC officials, the feeding zones have been identified in accordance with Supreme Court directions on the management and welfare of stray dogs. Each designated feeding point will have feeding bowls, water tanks and protective sheds to ensure systematic feeding.“We have planned to operationalise four feeding points in each of the three zones on an experimental basis. Gradually, all 67 wards will have the facility. The aim is to contain dog menace and reduce public inconvenience. We have already held discussions with resident welfare associations (RWAs) and voluntary dog feeders,” said Debi Prasad Kund, in-charge of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme of BMC.The feeding point initiative comes alongside BMC’s ongoing efforts to manage the city’s stray dog population through sterilisation and vaccination drives. Official sources said around 10,000 stray dogs have undergone sterilisation surgeries since the launch of a special campaign in May 2025. Prior to the intensified drive, nearly 5,000 dogs had been sterilised, taking the total number of sterilised stray dogs in the city to about 15,000.BMC estimates the city’s stray dog population at nearly 48,000. It believes the combined strategy of sterilisation, vaccination and regulated feeding can significantly improve stray dog management.A month ago, BMC also completed a 70-day intensive anti-rabies vaccination campaign covering more than 35,000 stray dogs across the city. Officials said the measures are aimed at ensuring both public safety and animal welfare while creating a more organised system for managing the growing stray dog population in the state capital.