Bhubaneswar, May 13: The municipal corporation has decided to install 15,000 more energy-efficient LED bulbs across the city, particularly in the non-illuminated stretches.

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation will execute the project in public-private partnership mode. The private company, with whom the civic body has entered into an agreement, will replace the old sodium bulbs with LED bulbs on stretches at Sailashree Vihar, Kanan Vihar and some other surrounding areas.

According to the deal, the private company procures and installs the LED bulbs and also remains responsible for their repair, replacement and maintenance. This will be the second phase of installation of energy-efficient LED bulbs in the city and will be completed in four months. The first phase was launched in August 2014.

"We covered the main stretches of the city with LED street-lighting system in the first phase and saved energy up to 80 per cent. In the next phase, we will install 15,000 more LEDs in various wards. We have already asked our private partner to begin the process," said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.

Jena said that saving energy was the top priority of the civic body, especially because Bhubaneswar has been shortlisted to be developed into one of the smart cities of the country.

"We want to bring in smart solutions in every sectors. The energy-efficient street lighting system is one of the components. In the later phases, all the streets of the city will be lit up with LED lights," said the mayor.

Between August 2014, and September 2015, the municipal corporation had completed installation of 20,000 LEDs on stretches at Janpath, Gandhi Marg, Rajmahal, Sishu Bhawan Square, Acharya Vihar and Chandrasekharpur.

The civic body and the private partner jointly operate a central control room at Bhawani Mall in Saheed Nagar where the operators switch on and off the lights according to the requirements of the day. The corporation also has a toll-free number where citizens can make a call and complain about defunct street lights.