70,000 LEDs to light up streets

(Representative image)

PUNE: The civic body has decided to replace around 70,000 street lights with Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs).
The standing committee approved a proposal on Tuesday. A private company will replace the high pressure sodium vapour lights with LED.
"The civic body aims to reduce its expense on electricity. It has also decided to do away with the old system in favour of better technology. The process of street light replacement is underway and nearly 40% have been replaced. The rest will be changed in a year's time," Shrikrishna Chaudhary, head of PMC's electricity department, said.


As per data, the city has around 1.2 lakh street lights of which 50,000 have been replaced at a cost of Rs 50 crore. Around 70,000 more lights will be replaced by spending another Rs 90 crore. The administration hopes to save Rs 14 crore annually with this move. At present, the civic body spends around Rs 40 crore on street lights.
He said the civic administration had to carry out the tender process thrice. The selected agency will make the capital expenditure on the project and maintain the street lights for 12 years.


"The civic body will not pay directly to the firm. It will generate revenue from reduction on electricity expenses. Part of the money saved after converting all the street lights into LED will be given to the company," he said.
The civic body has also decided to lease out over 20,000 streetlight poles in various parts of the city for advertising. This move will enable the civic body to generate nearly Rs 8 crore revenue.