Bhubaneswar, Aug. 30: Nandan Vihar resident Ishan Mohanty has heaved a sigh of relief at authorities' decision to install energy-efficient street lights in his area.
The Bhubaneswar Development Authority has decided to install the energy-efficient lights first on the stretch between Banful Basti and Nandankanan. Later, it will install similar lights at Kalinga Nagar. An amount of Rs 1.14 crore will be spent for lighting up the stretch between Banful Basti and Nandanakanan, while Rs 3.86 lakh has been earmarked for Kalinga Nagar. These stretches will be illuminated in the next 90 days after the tender is finalised.
"We have floated tenders for the project to be taken up by certified electrical contractors. The tender will be finalised in the next 10 days, and the contractor will get 90 days to complete the installation of the poles and LED bulbs on the selected stretches," said an authority official.
Mohanty said they had been demanding for street lights and other basic civic services in their area for long. "We are happy that finally the administration has realised our difficulties," he said.
The decision, however, has brought relief to the residents of one part of the city, while there are other areas without street lights. "Despite being so close to the city, our area has no street lights - not even the mercury ones. Such darkness gives way to criminal activities," said Malipada resident Sushil Mishra.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has recently taken up the job of installing street lights in the areas where they are absent. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today inaugurated the LED street lights between Fire Station Square and Sishu Bhavan Square. The Telegraph had earlier reported about the plight of the people here due to the absence of street lights.
"The state government has signed a pact with Energy Efficiency Services Limited for installing LED street lights in the urban areas. We have started identifying stretches where street lights have to be installed and also the areas where mercury lights have to be replaced with the LED ones," said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.
