Bhubaneswar, Aug. 24: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today inaugurated street-lighting facilities on the stretch between Khandagiri-Udayagiri caves and Kalinga Studio.

The 3-km street-lighting project, which was a long-standing demand of the people of Khandagiri, cost Rs 61.37 lakh.

Naveen also inaugurated street-lighting facilities at four other places ahead of the local self government day on August 31.

These four stretches are the ones between Khandagiri Square and Baramunda on NH-5, Patia Square and Check Gate via KIIT Square, Gajapati Nagar and Railway Stadium Square and Nalco Square and Press Chhak.

Inadequate street lighting coupled with poor road conditions had made driving through these stretches at night extremely hazardous. Apart from this, these stretches also used to become a playground for goons after dark with many cases of theft and other criminal activities being reported from nearby areas. Concerned about their safety and security, the local residents had been clamouring for illumination for a long time.

Partha Sarathi Das, a resident of Khandagiri, said: “The crime graph has gone up in the city. Incidents of snatching in this part of the city have become a regular affair. Consequently, street lighting will be a big help.”

The street lights would also provide better security to tourists visiting the famed Jain monuments at Khandagiri. At present, Odisha tourism is constructing an interpretation centre near the monuments. The place will also have a multi-cuisine restaurant that would serve Odia dishes, an audio-visual centre and a crafts centre.

“With the revamp plan of Baramunda bus terminal on cards, there will be a temporary bus terminal near Khandagiri hill. So, the street lighting will also help the temporary bus terminal,” said a senior tourism department official.

While the roads in the capital are being constantly expanded owing to a significant increase in the number of vehicles in recent years, road safety conditions have hardly kept pace with this development.

Although most traffic junctions across the city are lit up, vast stretches in several areas are still not satisfactorily illuminated. The roads either have no street lights, or are marked with flickering, faulty or damaged lights.

Deepak Kumar Mishra, a resident of Baramunda Housing Board Colony, said: “The stretch between Khandagiri Square and Baramunda on NH-5 was without any street lights for years. Now, with lights on, people travelling through the area will feel safer.”

The distance between Khandagiri Square and Baramunda is nearly 1.5km and the street light project on this stretch cost the civic body Rs 50 lakh.

Another major stretch to get street lights today was Patia Square to the old check gate via KIIT University Square. The lighting arrangement on the stretch, which is nearly 2km long, was made at an investment of Rs 65.72 lakh.

Poor lighting often forced motorists on this stretch to drive with high beams, which was is one of the major reasons for accidents. High-beam driving virtually blinds other drivers, as they are not able to see what is in front of them, be it pedestrians, animals or potholes.

“Though this area under ward No. 2 is seeing rapid growth because of real estate development, street lights were absent. The commuters will benefit from this initiative,” said Milan Kumar Rout, a local resident.

Two small stretches of street lighting were also unveiled today along the Gajapati Nagar stretch near Sainik School. While one links Gajapati Nagar Square to Railway Stadium Square, the other links Nalco Square (near Kalinga Hospital) to Press Chhak. The two stretches are nearly 200 metres each. While the first project cost Rs 30.6 lakh, the other cost Rs 23.48 lakh.

“Earlier, the road between the Nalco Square and Acharya Vihar had street lights till Gajapati Nagar. Minor accidents had been taking place in the dark stretch. But now, the stretch will be safer,” said Nabaghana Sahu, who stays in the area.