The civic body will install 50 compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in each ward next year, replacing some of the existing streetlights.
The board of Patna Municipal Corporation approved the installation of 50 CFLs in each of the 72 wards of the capital in its meeting on Wednesday. The lamps would be installed by the first week of January.
PMC commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pal told reporters: “The meeting was held with a single agenda — installation of 50 CFLs in every ward and it was passed with a majority. Each complete set of lamps would include a 85W compact fluorescent lamps, an angle (where the bulb is fitted) and an igniter (switch). Each set would cost Rs 2,050. We would soon float tenders and it would take 21 days for opening the bids. The new streetlights are expected to be in place by the first week of January.”
The standing committee of the civic body had approved the proposal in its meeting on November 27.
There are around 15,000 streetlights in Patna but most of them are defunct and cannot be repaired because of lack of funds. The PMC’s move of installing 3,600 new streetlights could solve problems of several citizens.
Rajeev Nagar resident Kundan Kumar said: “Children are not allowed to go out after sunset because there are no streetlights. Senior citizens are also apprehensive of being attacked by criminals or stray animals and avoid going out in the evening.”
Residents of areas such as Patliputra Colony, Gardanibagh, Digha, Ashiana Road, Jagdeo Path-Rukunpura, Serpentine Road, Indirapuri, AG Colony, Lodipur, Police Lines, Anisabad, Danapur, Khagaul, Rajendra Nagar and Patna City face similar problems in the absence of functional streetlights.
Former deputy mayor Vinay Kumar Pappu, however, alleged irregularities in the PMC board meetings and said ward councillors would stage a dharna at Maurya Lok Complex next Monday.