Chennai Corpn to install 5,594 new streetlights, 85 highmast lights

CHENNAI: In a bid to improve safety of women, the Greater Chennai Corporation has issued orders to install 5,594 new street lights and 85 high mast lamps at a cost of Rs 33.57 crore under the Nirbhaya Fund.

An official statement said that Municipal Administration Minister KN Nehru while replying to the demand for the grant in the Assembly has announced that new streetlights would be installed in the left out areas and places which are darker.

The new LED street lights would be installed in the expanded areas of the corporation limits, police recommended places and areas identified by the corporation electrical department based on the residents' complaints.

The work on installing 1,104 new streetlights at a cost of Rs 4.85 crore is underway in the newly added areas like Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram, Ambattur, Valasaravakkam, Perungudi and Shollinganallur.

In the areas recommended by the police, works are on to install 696 street lights and 49 high mast LED lights at Rs 6.01 crore. Based on the areas identified by the Corporation electrical department and petitions from the residents, the Corporation has undertaken installation of 3,794 street lights and 36 high mast lights at an expenditure of Rs 22.73 crore.

The civic body is also taking steps to replace 1997 streetlights which are badly eroded with the new ones at Rs 7.53 crore, it said, adding that soon the work would commence with the contract having been finalised following the tendering process.