Streetlights in many areas across the city are either not switched on or dysfunctional. This is what the BBMP Standing Committee for Ward-level Works found during an inspection on Wednesday night.
The committee visited Kempe Gowda Road, Mysore Bank Circle, Palace Road, T.V. Tower Road, Cantonment, Queen’s Road, Subbaiah Circle, Lalbagh Road, Agaram Circle, Kanakapura Road, Kadirenahalli, Padmanabhanagar Ring Road, J.P. Nagar Ring Road, Bannerghatta Road and Lakkasandra.
Committee chairperson A.H. Basavaraju on Thursday informed that he has directed officials to levy a fine and seek an explanation from the contractors responsible for maintaining streetlights. Every stretch where streetlights are not functioning would invite a fine of Rs. 1,000. Thursday’s inspection resulted in a total fine of Rs. 79,200. Contractors in the South Zone have been fined Rs. 65,100, those in West Zone Rs. 7,100 and in the East Zone for Rs. 7,000. If a contractor gets more than three show-cause notices, he/she will be blacklisted.
He also said that the new tender for maintenance of streetlights would be floated shortly.
Pointing out that maintenance rates have not been revised since 1998, he said, “Rates have been revised in the new tender proposal following consultation with the Technical Vigilance Cell under the Commissioner.”
The committee would also take a call on replacing sodium vapour bulbs with cost-effective LEDs, Mr. Basavaraju said.
