SAMBALPUR: Major roads of the city will be illuminated with LED lights shortly. The traditional street lights will be removed and new poles erected along the main roads for installation of LED lights, informed Commissioner of Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC) Bimalendu Rai. He said all major roads of the city including Ainthapali Chowk-Church Chowk, Dhanupali Chowk-Khetrajpur, Church Chowk-Golebazar Chowk, road in front of Sambalpur University and PC Bridge Chowk-PG Chowk in Burla will be covered under the project. This apart, at least 15 high mast lights will be installed at strategic locations across the city. The total cost of the project is estimated at ` six crore and the work will be undertaken by the Public Works Department (PWD) which has already floated tender for installation of LED lights.
Tender will be opened within a fortnight, he added. The LED bulbs are energy efficient and will improve street lighting in the city. The municipal corporation pays electricity bill of around `15 lakh per month for street lighting. Poor street lighting is a major problem of the city and majority of the areas along the main roads are generally illuminated by the roadside shops and market complexes. The areas which are illuminated by the roadside shops turn dark after closure of the shops.Earlier, the SMC had signed an agreement with the Delhi-based Neev Energy to improve street lighting in the city by installing LED lights. However, the firm is yet to get work order from the State Government to start the project. Rai said they have decided to ask Neev Energy to install the LED lights in 12 gram panchayats which have been merged with the SMC.