North MCD to replace conventional streetlights with LED

As a part of the ‘Smart City’ project, North Delhi Municipal Corporation is likely to replace conventional street lights with LED lights. If implemented, this proposal will not only ensure energy conservation but also make sure virtual revenue generation for the Corporation as LED Street lights are a cost-effective phenomenon as opposed to the conventional ones that generate whopping electricity bills. The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) had also announced a similar move about a month back.

As per the project, no capital investment will be done by North MCD. There will be a “virtual revenue generation” in terms of lesser payment to DISCOMS on account of reduced expenditure for electricity bills and maintenance charges for street, SHML and park lights.

“The time frame for execution will be six months from the date of award of work,” said the report. The sharing of saving of electricity and maintenance charges for street, SHML and park lights will be for a fixed period of the first seven years of the project.

Not only this, automated control and monitoring system will be installed for better functionality and efficiency which will help in tracking energy consumption. According to a report, a meeting was held between Delhi government and higher functionaries of North MCD wherein it was concluded that conventional street lights will be replaced with LED lights at Sanatan Dharam Marg, H-Block, Naraina Vihar Ward no 151 in Karol Bagh Zone through EESL (Energy Efficiencies Service Limited) as a pilot project. The cost of repair and maintenance of LED fixtures upto the period of contract of seven years will be borne by EESL.

“As the North MCD has more than 1.4 lakh electric poles, it pays a hefty bill of Rs 4.5 crore to discoms and once we will materialise the plan it will be reduced to Rs 2 crore. Besides this, the move will help in making the area smarter. The other agencies like New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and SDMC are already changing their lights and the North Corporation has decided to follow their lines,” said a senior official of the Corporation.