Hubli
The Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation’s (HDMC) ambitious plan to implement LED streetlights has been facing delays since its conception in 2019. Despite the project being directed for execution by HDMC in 2022, challenges in the tender process and subsequent delays have hindered its progress.
While HDMC has sanctioned funds for LED bulb installation in some wards, the project’s full-scale implementation is pending, leaving certain areas without adequate number of street lights.
According to a source in HDMC, to save energy and crores of rupees, the project to replace all street lights with LEDs for city corporations was approved in 2018. Initially, replacing conventional street lights was approved for Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits. It was later decided to extend this to city corporations across the state. However, the project has been implemented by Myusuru Corporation, Tumakuru and other corporations in the state but has failed to take off under HDMC. HDMC Deputy Mayor and Corporator of ward no 32 Satish Hangal said that since 2018, the HDMC has stopped installing regular bulbs due to the LED scheme.The existing bulbs are Mercury and tubelights were installed under the HDMC limits. These bulbs will consume more energy and are too costly for maintenance. To save this, the LED scheme has been implemented in HDMC. Due to technical issues, it has been delayed but will be implemented soon, he assured. HDMC Commissioner Ishwar Ullagaddi told that the LED project is carried under the Public-Private Partnership model. As the project cost is more than Rs 50 crore, it needs to be approved by a committee headed by a retired judge. Soon after approval, we will call a tender for this project. They have to maintain it for 7 years, he said.
