GHMC Turns Spotlight On Faulty Streetlights As Complaints Galore
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Hyderabad: With the city receiving nearly 20,000 complaints each month about faulty or dim streetlights, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (
GHMC
) has launched a citywide audit to assess and overhaul its streetlight network.
The move is part of a broader effort to improve lighting quality, ensure energy efficiency, and strengthen monitoring through advanced technology.
The civic body plans to engage a third-party agency under a seven-year operation and maintenance contract to inspect existing LED streetlights, Central Control and Monitoring System (CCMS) boxes, and new installations. This agency will randomly inspect 10 stretches daily to assess performance, aiming to cover the entire GHMC jurisdiction within a month.
As part of the auditing process, the third party will measure light output (lumens) to ensure compliance with standards. Faulty units will be flagged for replacement. The audit will also verify the condition of buffer stock, which must remain healthy and ready for use at all times.
"Using real-time dashboards and tech-based monitoring, we're detecting non-functional lights and verifying luminosity levels across the city.
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We are also benchmarking practices from other metros to refine our geo-tagging and maintenance models. Additionally, we plan to outsource streetlight maintenance to a private firm, while a third-party agency will assess and evaluate the operational efficiency of the city's street lighting infrastructure," senior official from GHMC's electrical wing.
In addition, all streetlights will be geo-tagged, and any poles deemed hazardous will be dismantled immediately to restore network safety.
GHMC's existing GIS mapping initiative — which digitally logs properties and utilities — will be integrated to map switching points and make them accessible through a web-based dashboard linked to Google Maps.
The new contract also mandates the establishment of a centralised complaint management system via toll-free numbers, WhatsApp, SMS, and a dedicated website. The agency must provide real-time data on each fixture's functionality and grant GHMC complete access to this information both online and offline.
GHMC initially partnered with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) in 2017 to switch to energy-efficient LED lights. The upcoming contract further extends these efforts by including maintenance of LED units, CCMS components, power lines, pole boxes, earthing, and related infrastructure.
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