MUMBAI: BMC has pushed for replacing over 80,000 street lights in suburban areas by the end of the financial year.
Tuesday will see street lights near Rangsharda in Bandra being changed in the first phase. In May last year, TOI had reported how most roads in Bandra, Khar, Santacruz, Linking Road and Hill Road were poorly illuminated, according to a survey of 284 roads initiated by local MLA Ashish Shelar. "We will inaugurate the street light replacement ceremony on Tuesday. This will boost lux levels and also remove dark areas in Bandra, Khar and Santa Cruz areas. I have been pursuing this matter with the BMC and Reliance Energy for past 18 months," tweeted Shelar.
Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta said the initiative was being taken up across the city. "The colour of lights will remain unchanged but I have instructed officials that in case the lux level of a street light not being adequate, it should be enhanced," he said. Mehta had allocated Rs 28 crore in the 2018-19 budget to replace the lights.
Reliance Energy has bagged the contract to install LED lights in the suburbs, said an energy department source.
LED will reduce BMC's annual electricity bill from Rs 164 crore Rs 80 crore.
The urban development department (UDD) and Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) had in February signed an MoU to install 20 lakh LED street lights in Maharashtra.
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