Automated system to show the way for streetlights

The system will facilitate immediate remedial action towards restoration of lights that fail to burn — Photo: S.S. Kumar

The Chennai Corporation is all set to put in place an automated control system for monitoring streetlights in the city.

The Corporation this week called for expression of interest from companies for a pilot study and proposal for the automated facility.

The system will facilitate updating of data on burning of streetlights and immediate remedial action towards restoration of lights that fail to burn.

The civic body is at present maintaining 2.13 lakh streetlights, of which over 3.65 percent are found ‘not burning’ every day.

The control room in Ripon Buildings will monitor streetlights and facilitate quick action for restoration. As part of the initiative, a study on 4,569 individual streetlight fittings in locations including Chintadripet, Ashok Nagar, Velachery and Adyar will be conducted. A proposal for the automated system will be made shortly.

Over 100 LED streetlights and 413 sodium vapour streetlights in Chintadripet, 570 sodium vapour streetlights in Ashok Nagar, 1,048 street lights in Adyar and 2,437 streetlights in Velachery will be covered in the pilot project.

Chennai Corporation has already initiated programmes to replace 60,000 old streetlights in eight added zones. All the new 60,000 streetlights will be LED lights as they last five times longer than do sodium vapour lamps.

The initiative is expected to bring down energy consumption by 25 per cent and save 36 lakh units in the coming year. Most of the new streetlights on key stretches are expected to be commissioned soon. The streetlights will be centrally monitored through a web page in real time.