Indore municipal corporation makes light of streetlight issue

INDORE: Barring a few main roads, most of the lanes and by-lanes in Indore, which is also known as mini-Mumbai plunge into darkness after the sunset sans streetlights. Residents are left at the mercy of hoodlums and women have a harrowing time while commuting after twilight in the city where the crime graph has risen manifold of late. Indore Municipal Corporation claims to have spent crores of rupees on illuminating the city, but the money appears to have gone down the drain.
Darkness and fear reign supreme after sunset in about 55 per cent area of Indore, which is being showcased as a potential IT hub of central India to attract investments from across the globe.
This is despite the fact that Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) spends a considerable amount on ensuring well-lit streets. Going by the report on India Urban Infrastructure Services 2011 released by Union government, the IMC could have installed street lights across the city by spending just Rs 71 crore. As per the report, the civic body can install streetlights at the cost of Rs 366 per person.
IMC, though, has spent more than above mentioned amount in just two years but still large parts of the city are deprived of streetlights. For 2014-15, IMC in its budget allocated Rs 45 crore for installing streetlights in localities, streets and feeder roads. In the past few decades, the IMC has managed to properly equip just around 45 per cent localities with streetlights.
Similarly, civic body is prescribed by Union government report to spend around Rs 8 per person/annum over maintenance of streetlights. As per the Census 2011, the population of Indore city is around 21 lakh and the total expenses estimated for maintenance work of streetlights add up to Rs 1.57 crore. But the IMC has been spending around Rs 25 crore per year.
Social activist Kishor Kodwani, who had filed PIL for streetlights, said that on paper, civic body spends huge amount on installation and maintenance of street lights but many parts of the city plunge into darkness after sunset.
"Civic body is fooling people in the name of street light," said Kodwani.
Mayor Krishnamurari Moghe admitted that many parts of the city are still without street lights but he defended civic body saying that they have added thousand of streetlights in past few years.
"We have illuminated crossings and gardens by installing high mast. The number of high mast in the city has gone up to 193. Many more areas will be covered with streetlights in coming days," he said.
"Installation and maintenance of street light need huge amount of money and the civic body is trying to get some funds from state government. IMC is also working on cutting maintenance cost and actively considering installing solar street lights," he added.
Street lights
Number of streetlights in the city: 62,000
Number of high mast lights at crossing: 200
Budget for streetlights for 2014-15: Rs 45 cr
Colonies covered under streetlights: 40%
Total area of city: 320 sq km
Length of road network: Around 1900 km
Major residential colonies in the city perennially into darkness due to lack of proper street lights:
Meghdoot Nagar, Bajrang Nagar, Nanda Nagar, Nehru Nagar, Babji Nagar, Janta Colony, Chandan Nagar, Nirani nagar, Grater Brijeshwari, Veena Nagar, Ambedkar colony, Mahalaxmi, Vasant Vihar, Scheme No. 78, 54, 74, 91, Srinagar extension, Tilak Nagar, Manishpuri, Saket Colony