PWD, SDMC trade blame over delay in street lighting project

Delhi government's Public Works Department has alleged that SDMC is not cooperating in its ambitious project to light up dark spots in its areas, a charge denied by the civic body.
A senior PWD official alleged that SDMC has denied permission for installing street lights at dark spots across South Delhi even as the process has been initiated across East Delhi and North Delhi areas as both NDMC and EDMC have given No Objection Certificates to the department, he said.
The installation work in North and East Delhi is scheduled to be completed by February next year, the official said.

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation authorities, however, denied the charge saying the tendering process for 5,000 poles with lights was in an advanced stage and likely to be completed in next 15-20 days.
"We have already given tenders for installing 5000 poles with lights, including coverage of 2500 darks spots identified in our area by Delhi Police.
"Efforts are being made to install the lights before Diwali," SDMC's standing committee chairman Shailendra Singh Monty said.

Singh claimed that SDMC had received no communication in this regard from the Delhi government and that the civic body is lighting up the dark spots on its own.

Illumination of these spots will make the areas safer for the residents in general and will ensure women safety as well, another senior government official said.
A detailed survey was initiated by the PWD to identify the dark spots in North and East Delhi. It was found that there are 124 dark spots in the East Delhi Municipal area and around 7,304 dark spots in the North Delhi Municipal area, he said.
As per the project, PWD will light up these areas and will install around 82 poles in East Delhi and 3,686 poles in North Delhi. The department also plans to install 124 LED lights in East Delhi and around 7,304 LED lights in the North Delhi region to illuminate dark spots.