India, May 11 -- Even as the stray dog population within the limits of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has reached an estimated 40,000, the civic body plans to permanently relocate only around 300 dogs in compliance with recent Supreme Court directives, raising concerns over whether the move will meaningfully improve public safety amid a sharp rise in dog bite cases across Maharashtra.

The Supreme Court recently directed municipal authorities to remove stray dogs from high-risk public spaces such as hospitals, schools, courts and transport hubs, and relocate them to designated shelters instead of releasing them back into the same areas.

According to data released by the State Public Health Department last week, Maharashtra recorde...