LEDs to light up city streets

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, June 19

The Municipal Corporation is going to execute the energy-efficient LED street light project as a step towards making the city smart.

The Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PMIDC) has given its nod to the project with the proposal that a private firm, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), be hired for execution of the LED project. However, the MC has been asked to satisfy itself about the working of the company before signing an MoU and moving ahead with the project.

The LED street lights project for the city was proposed in 2008 to replace the existing street lights with the energy-efficient lights. There are a total of 1.05 lakh street light points in the city and the MC is paying more than Rs 30 crore per annum towards electricity consumption by street lights. MC officials said while on one hand the LED lights would help cut down the electricity bills drastically, it would also prove beneficial for the commuters on the roads with better lightning.

The PMIDC has also asked the MC Commissioner to study the scope of smart street lighting project included in the Smart City project approved by the Centre and make sure that there is no duplicity in funding and its management before proceeding with EESL.

The officials said the PMIDC had directed them to first get the project approved from the MC General House based on the structure and terms and conditions of the EESL model. There were indications that once the House accorded its approval, the MC would sign an MoU with the EESL for the entire city but execution would be done in a phased manner, starting with a pilot project in one ward.

Municipal Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori said: “It is a much-awaited project for the city and finally, the PMIDC has given permission to the MC to execute the project which is a good news for the residents also.” He said the PMIDC had also asked the MCL to appoint a professional who should have the experience of street lighting because as of now civil engineers are handling this branch. Thori claimed that they would shortly move ahead with the project.