LED streetlights can cut power use by 61%, says Minister; flags rollout delays
Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has criticized the slow progress of the city's LED streetlighting project. He has granted a two-month extension to complete the installation of remaining lights and monitoring systems, warning contractors of penalties for delays.
Why it matters
Efficient street lighting is critical for urban safety and energy conservation, and this highlights the challenges of large-scale infrastructure project management in Indian cities.
Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Tuesday said the LED streetlighting project could reduce electricity consumption by 61.01% if implemented in full. He, however, noted that the project has been progressing at a sluggish pace.
Reviewing the progress of the project with GBA electrical engineers, Mr. Byre Gowda questioned officials over the slow pace of implementation and lashed out at officials over the incomplete rollout despite work orders being issued more than a year ago.
He also reprimanded officials for having attended the meeting without accurate data.
According to the Minister, the project envisaged installing 3,02,919 LED streetlights across the city. However, only 2,67,270 lights have been installed so far. Similarly, of the 24,677 Centralised Control and Monitoring System (CCMS) panels planned under the project, only 7,567 have been installed.
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