Work on replacement of 1.87 lakh streetlights across Goa with LED bulbs is expected to be complete in a fortnight in Panaji.
Once all the fixtures are replaced, the department, after receiving an NOC from the department of tourism, is also looking at replacing lights at beaches. Presently, the electricity department only provides power supply with the fixtures being maintained by the tourism department. All lights on bridges too, most of which are managed by the public works department will be replaced.
Depending on factors such as width of the road and density of traffic among others, LED lights with an intensity of between 13 watts to 210 watts are being fitted. Once the streetlights are replaced by Bharat Vikas Group, that is implementing the street lighting national programme in the state, a centralized control and monitoring system will also be established. Instead of the staff of the electricity department manually switching the streetlights on and off, the centralized control system will allow this to be done through automatically based on wireless GSM-based panels
A full-fledged central control room will be set up from where these controls will be managed, thus permitting the staff of the department to devote their energy to other tasks.
Presently a helpline 1800 233 3949, devoted only to LED streetlight related complaints, is functional. A full-fledged call centre, like the department’s 24-hour 1912 centre, will also be set up. Defective LED streetlights will have to be replaced within 48 hours. BVG will look after the project and maintenance of all LED lighting for 10 years.
By Baishakhi Dutta
