Bhubaneswar: The vicinity of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) centre here will be lit again as the administration has decided to repair the defunct street lights along the stretch.

Street lights between the NH-5 and AIIMS Square have been defunct for long. The Telegraph reported about the lack of civic facilities around the campus on September 27.

"We have issued a tender to repair the sub-station feeder pillar in front of the AIIMS and other street lights. We will spend Rs 2.54 lakh and complete the job by mid-November," said a Bhubaneswar Development Authority official.

The absence of street lights had triggered cases of snatching and other crimes, forcing AIIMS director Gitanjali Batmanabane to write to the municipal commissioner.

"Defunct street lights had led to criminal activities. I had mentioned the problems faced by our employees and patients. I had also requested the government to take remedial measures. It's a good news that they have considered our case," said Batmanabane.

The AIIMS and its surrounding localities suffer from civic problems since the area is yet to be included within the civic jurisdiction. Besides defunct street lights, the area also contends with problems of solid waste management and stray animal menace.

A housing and urban development department official said they had initiated the process to include Shijua and Dumduma, where the institute is located, in the civic body area. "We have already intimated the Khurda collector to issue the notification," said the official.

Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said they were aware of the problems. "Once we get the district administration's nod, we will put up the matter at the corporation ," he said.