THE PLAN
Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation is installing 20,000 light-emitting diode (LED) street lights in the first phase. To ensure better functioning of the street lights, a GSM-based digital control room is being set up at the BMC-Bhawani Mall in Saheed Nagar to monitor their performance. A group of LED lights will be fitted with a SIM card that will be linked to the control room. This will help operators at the control room identify the lights that are not functioning properly or consuming more energy. A grievance mechanism will also be incorporated for improved monitoring and better interface with the people.
GRIEVANCE CELL
If LED street lights in your area do not light up or are low on power, pick up the phone and lodge your complaint with the toll free number that will be made public by the end of this month. The BSNL landline number will be intimated through public display boards and the media. The grievance cell will operate 24X7.
Rashmiprabha Parida, a homemaker who lives in Pokhariput, said: "The new LED lights have changed the cityscape with better and clear lights, but with less operational costs.''
THE BENEFIT
Apart from providing better luminance, the expenditure that the corporation makes on the energy bill for street lights will be reduced by 80 per cent. At present the corporation pays Rs 70-80 lakh every month on power bill alone.
BMC deputy commissioner (projects and public relations) Srimanta Mishra said: "Our investment to install the energy-saving lights is zero. Therefore, the earnings from the savings will be shared between the Nasik-based company installing the lights and the corporation. However, if its found that the LED lights are not saving power, then there is provision to cut money from company's share.''
The savings that the corporation makes in a month will be split with the private company getting 90 per cent of the share and the civic body 10 per cent.
Mishra said after successful completion of the LED conversion in the city, areas on the outskirts will be taken up.
