LED streetlights scheme for 10 major cities in Karnataka yet to switch on

The government’s ambitious plan to instal LED streetlights in 10 major cities with the hope of saving crores of rupees of public money is yet to take off, more than two years after it was put in motion.

LEDs streetlights have been installed in Tumakuru only and the plan appears to be moving slow in nine other cities.

The project to replace all street lights with LEDs in the 10 city corporations was approved in March 2018. Authorities say the project will lead to energy savings of 40%, translating to crores of rupees every year.

Ten city corporations – Tumakuru, Shivamogga, Mangaluru, Davangere, Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad, Mysuru, Ballari, Vijayapura and Kalaburagi – will have LEDs replacing the conventional street lights under public-private partnership (PPP).