BHUBANESWAR: The centrally-controlled monitoring system for LED lights in the city commenced operations at BMC Bhawani Mall here on Monday.
The system is based on state of the art technology in which switching on and turning off the street lights would be regulated by computer programmes.
Superwealth, a private firm which has signed a pact with Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) for the LED project, has engaged a team of engineers and technicians who would monitor the system round the clock.
Electric panels linked to LED lights in different areas would reflect the status of functioning, enabling instant repair or maintenance of a defunct lamp. The company has also launched a toll free number which can be used by residents to report defunct street lights.
The State Government had entered into an MoU with Superwealth to install over 20,000 LED lights in the city by replacing old ones and lighting up the non-illuminated stretches. The MoU stands for 10 years during which the private partner would be responsible for repair, replacement and maintenance of the LED units.
All streetlights under BMC would be changed to LED lights in a phased manner. This would reduce power consumption up to 60 per cent as compared to the sodium vapour lamps used earlier.
The project has no upfront cost for the Corporation. “BMC will not invest any money for the project and the private player will be paid from the savings earned from new system,” a BMC official said.
Already 13,000 LED lights have been installed across the city. The civic body plans to cover the remaining areas in two more phases for which identification of dark stretches and poorly illuminated areas has begun.