Minister for Urban Development U.T. Khader said on Saturday that the government had taken a policy decision that urban local bodies should henceforth use only LED streetlights and LED lights in other places in their jurisdiction to reduce energy consumption.

Speaking to reporters here, the Minister said that the purchase, operation and maintenance of LED lights should be outsourced by inviting bids. By installing LED lights, up to 40% of energy can be saved, he claimed. “We have instructed the urban local bodies to stop purchasing other lights. Henceforth, the bidder selected will have to purchase the lights,” he said.

Mr. Khader said that the government has fixed specifications for installing suitable the LED lights for city roads, state highways, national highways, and major district roads passing through the jurisdictions of urban local bodies.