Streetlights: Over ₹30 crore spent on streetlights in Bhubaneswar city |
Bhubaneswar: More than Rs 30 crore is being spent for supply, commissioning and maintenance of streetlights in the city, housing and urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra informed the assembly on Tuesday.
Replying to a question raised by Bhubaneswar (Central) MLA Ananta Narayan Jena related to expenditure on streetlights in the city, Mahapatra said in a written reply that two private agencies have been hired for supply, installation and commissioning of streetlights.
E-Smart and Neev Energy are hired for installation and maintenance of streetlights in Bhubaneswar. As per agreement, amounts of Rs 17.94 crore and Rs 13.13 crore are being provided to the agencies in two phases, the minister said.
On grievances regarding streetlights, the minister stated that any complaint received is being addressed within 48 hours and if the issue is not resolved, the agencies concerned are penalised.
The minister further said that the agencies have deputed employees at night to look after non-functional streetlights on internal roads. Appropriate steps are being taken for timely repair and maintenance of the non-functional streetlights, he stated.
Mahapatra also said that the agencies are taking the help of advanced technology to detect non-functional streetlights on the main thoroughfares of the city. “Timers are being used to switch the lights on and off,” he said.
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