-   No Light, No Bill rule by GHMC

-   EESL contract expired, vendors on duty

-    Rs 693 cr tech-driven plan proposed

-   4.77 lakh lights, Rs 8 cr monthly bill

-   500 new lights to be installed in each ward

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

In a major move to keep the city’s roads, colonies, and bastis well-lit, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is set to revamp the management of streetlights with a strict new strategy. The civic body has decided that if a streetlight fails to glow, the electricity charges for that particular light will not be paid. This condition will be enforced as part of its new set of rules aimed at improving efficiency and accountability.

Streetlight maintenance was earlier outsourced to private agencies, but the outcome did not meet expectations. Learning from those lapses, GHMC now plans to introduce technology-driven monitoring systems to ensure better performance. With the contract of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) having expired, GHMC has temporarily roped in private vendors to handle streetlight operations until a new company is appointed through tenders. The proposal, with an estimated cost of Rs 693 crore, has already been sent to the government for approval. Once clearance is received, tenders will be floated to bring in capable national and international agencies.

As part of the plan, five major companies, including Philips and Crompton Greaves, have already expressed interest in taking up the project under a five-year maintenance contract. GHMC will impose strict guidelines, such as the use of advanced technology to immediately detect non-functional lights and carry out quick repairs.

According to officials, Greater Hyderabad currently has about 4,77,424 streetlights spread across six zones and 30 circles. To power these lights, nearly 8,733 kilometers of electric wiring is in place. The network also consists of 6,786 timer and MCB panels, along with 24,840 command and control monitoring boards. For electricity alone, GHMC is spending close to Rs 8 crore every month.

Officials added that most complaints about streetlight failures usually surface during the monsoon season. To meet growing needs, GHMC has also decided to install an additional 500 streetlights wherever necessary. For maintenance, the civic body will pay Rs 187 per light every month.

With the introduction of these new rules and technology-based supervision, GHMC aims to ensure uninterrupted lighting across the city while also cutting down on unnecessary expenditure for non-functional streetlights.