Delhi: Rekha Gupta govt has a bright idea — Streetlights on EMIs

Singh said the average brightness provided by streetlights in Delhi is only 10-15 lux, far less than the 40 lux ideal for flyovers, highways, and main roads. Lux is the SI unit for illuminance, and is used to assess brightness as perceived by the human eye.

What the proposal entails

Under the proposal prepared by the PWD, the vendor will be required to install and maintain streetlights constantly at 40 lux, under monitoring by a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) architecture.

The proposal will be presented in the next meeting of the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC), and tenders will be floated in 10-15 days after final approval is received, the Minister said.
Roads in Delhi come under multiple agencies, including PWD, DDA, NDMC and MCD. While PWD maintains around 1,400 km of main roads, which includes flyovers and underpasses, MCD is usually responsible for internal and colony roads. The DDA, meanwhile, looks after roads that fall under its jurisdiction, like those in Dwarka sub-city and Rohini, among others.

There are around 1 lakh streetlights on PWD roads, and many of them are old high-pressure sodium vapour (HPSV) fittings. All lights under the PWD will be replaced with the energy-efficient smart LEDs that will ensure brighter illumination, lower electricity consumption, and longer lifespans, officials said.

“These days, everything from homes to household appliances is available on EMIs, so why not streetlights,” the Minister said. “Tenders will be floated soon, and the payment will be done on the EMI model… This will be a first for the country,” Singh said.

Vendor must repair faulty streetlights

The tender will also have a condition requiring the vendor to replace a faulty or malfunctioning LED within 24 hours. “We have held meetings with prospective companies, and they have agreed to this condition,” Singh said.

The expected cost of the project is Rs 400 crore. Officials flagged the large potential economic benefits of the transition. Back-of-the envelope calculations show the switch from HPSV to smart LEDs will lead to savings of around Rs 31.53 crore annually in electricity and maintenance costs. This, they said, would allow the government to invest more resources into critical infrastructure and welfare projects.

Each smartlight will be connected to a centralised dashboard and control room, which will allow officials to monitor them in real time, detect faults instantly, and ensure immediate repair. Citizens will also be able to view the status of streetlights in their area and register complaints, which will be resolved in a time-bound fashion, officials said.

“With this model, we are changing not just fittings, but the very system of governance. The EMI model will ensure that companies retain a critical stake in the performance of the lights, and make them partners in accountability. For the first time, citizens themselves will be able to see, monitor, and question the system in real time. This is transparency in its truest form…

“Currently, governments spend money upfront, and the public has to wait endlessly for results… Now, things will work differently – install, prove performance, and only then will payments be made. This approach makes sure that taxpayers’ money is used honestly and efficiently,” the Minister said.