A majority of the city’s LED lights will now be commissioned with the aid of World Bank through the Tamil Nadu Urban Development Fund III.
The Chennai Corporation council will pass a resolution on Saturday towards the commissioning of 34,425 LED streetlights at an estimated cost of Rs. 94.48 crore. A loan of Rs. 64.14 crore, a subsidy of Rs.18.90 crore and Corporation funds of Rs. 9.44 crore will be used for lighting up zones such as Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram, Ambattur, Valasaravakkam, Alandur, Perungudi and Sholinganallur, sources said. Work in some areas has already been taken up.
The project is expected to improve streetlighting in 93 wards. These neighbourhoods have only 83,807 streetlights, including 49,420 tubelights, most of which are non-functional. Added zones such as Ambattur and Valasaravakkam will get a significant number of the new LED streetlights.
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Last year, based on a survey carried out after the merger of new areas with the Corporation, it was estimated over 1.1 lakh new streetlights were required and the civic body decided to use LED fittings. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had announced in April that the Rs. 321.79-crore project would be completed in two years.
The Corporation had first decided to install 55,000 LED streetlights by March 31, 2014. However, it is likely to commission only 48,034 of the streetlights with available funds, sources said.
By the end of November, 13,609 of the streetlights are expected to be installed. The Corporation issued work orders for these 40-watt streetlights a month ago and has commissioned them in some areas. Work on fitting 2,000 of the streetlights in some wards has been completed.
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After commissioning the LED lights, the civic body will put in place an automated control system for monitoring them. A few companies have commenced a pilot study in areas such as Besant Nagar for the system, which will facilitate immediate action for restoration of non-functional lights.
According to sources, funds amounting to Rs. 177 crore will be required for the next phase of installing 62,021 of the LED fittings, which will be completed in March 2015.