3,000 LED street lights to be installed in Vellore, Tiruvannamalai

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With the onset of Northeast monsoon, Vellore and Tiruvannamalai Corporations will soon install an additional 3,000 new LED street lights in these towns to ensure the safety of residents, especially at night during monsoon.

Corporation officials said that a joint coordination meeting with key stakeholders, including Tangedco, the Revenue Department, police and residents’ welfare associations, was held at the civic body’s headquarters in these towns. In Vellore town, the meeting was chaired by Corporation Commissioner A. Catherine Saranya. “The meeting assumes significance as Tangedco was given adequate time before the start of heavy rains to address major complaints related to street lights,” K. Balasubramanian, Commissioner, Tiruvannamalai Corporation, told The Hindu. 

 Some of the major complaints reported by residents to civic officials were the snapping of electrical cables that are connected to street lights in these towns due to strong winds. Another complaint was the dangling of electrical wires on key stretches during monsoon. Corporation officials requested Tangedco officials in these towns to provide a separate electrical phase from transformers in each area to operate street lights alone. “Such an arrangement (separate electrical phase) will allow working of street lights even during unscheduled power cuts during rains. In other words, it will help residents to reach their houses safely,” a Corporation official said.

At present, 31,714 LED street lights and 124 high mast lamps are maintained by Vellore Corporation. In Tiruvannamalai, 13,700 street lights and 50 high mast lamps are run by the civic body. Of these, around 20 % of the total lights are run through solar power. On average, around ₹30 lakh is spent on electricity charges by each of these civic bodies every month.

Against this backdrop, the civic bodies have proposed installing at least 3,000 additional LED street lights. Most of these new street lights will be set up in extended areas of these two towns.

Areas like Alamelumangapuram, Rangapuram near the Collectorate Office, Ariyur and Sripuram will get new LED street lights in Vellore town. In Tiruvannamalai, all 18 villages on the 14 km Girivalam Path that are merged with the Corporation will get new street lights. “Better street lights will act as a deterrent against antisocials and stray dogs in the area. It will also help to prevent electrocution during rains,” said R. Padma, a resident.

Each street light, which will be 8 metres in height, will be installed at a distance of 30 metres from the next. High-powered 90-volt bulbs will be fixed on street lights at key stretches and arterial roads. The entire work will cost around ₹26 crore from the Road Safety Fund of the district administration.

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