Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Delhi government will implement an EMI-based payment model for a major streetlight modernisation project aimed at upgrading nearly 93,000 streetlights across the national capital, Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh announced on Tuesday.
The project, estimated to cost Rs 473.24 crore, seeks to replace existing High Pressure Sodium Vapour (HPSV) lights and ageing LED fixtures with smart LED streetlights on roads maintained by the PWD. The initiative is expected to significantly reduce electricity consumption and generate savings of around Rs 300 crore over the next five years.
advertisement
Announcing the project, Singh said payments to the contractor would be made through a monthly EMI-based system linked to the performance of the streetlights.
“For the first time, we will be giving a project, which will have the EMI model of payments, monthly, based on the performance report of the streetlights. This is being done specifically to ensure proper functioning and management of new smart streetlights,” the minister said.
The project will be executed in phases across the PWD’s road network, which spans approximately 1,400 kilometres in Delhi. In addition to replacing existing fixtures, the government plans to install 5,000 new poles to illuminate currently unlit stretches and cater to future requirements.
A key component of the initiative is the establishment of a centralised command-and-control centre at the PWD headquarters. Equipped with two 75-inch display systems and specialised software, the facility will enable real-time monitoring of all streetlights across the network.
According to the minister, the new system will feature individually controllable and dimmable smart lights capable of adjusting illumination levels in response to weather conditions and operational requirements.
Under the performance-linked payment framework, the contractor will be required to ensure uninterrupted functioning of the lighting infrastructure to qualify for monthly payments.
The government has already floated the tender for the project and expects to award the contract within the next two weeks.
Observations from the Finance Department indicate that the transition to smart LED lighting will substantially reduce power expenditure over a five-year period compared to the existing arrangement, reinforcing the project’s long-term financial and energy-efficiency benefits.
The initiative forms part of the Delhi government’s broader efforts to modernise urban infrastructure while reducing operational costs and improving public services through technology-driven solutions.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
