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Time of India

Streetlights remain defunct in many areas in Kochi city

Kochi: Many places in the city are in darkness at night as authorities fail to ensure that streetlights are operating. Though Cochin Smart Mission Ltd (CSML) and Kochi corporation are implementing a project to replace all old streetlights with LED lights, even the lights erected under the project are defunct in certain are unable to rectify flaws and restore the streetlight system. Streetlights in many places in the city, like Manappattipparambu Road, Vyttila and Gandhinagar, are not functioning for the past few days. "Streetlights erected by KMRL in Panampilly Nagar walkway have not been functioning for the past three months. It is learned that there were some technical issues with KSEB that resulted in the malfunction of streetlights. So, authorities of Kochi corporation and KMRL should intervene and get the lights restored," said former Councillor from Panampilly Nagar to opposition councillors, CSML authorities fail to rectify the malfunction of streetlights. CSML contracted a lighting technology agency to replace 40,000 streetlights in the city with new LED lights. The contract was supposed to be completed by Aug 2024, but the deadline was extended to Dec 2024 as the agency couldn't complete the work. "We have been demanding that corporation authorities should intervene to ensure proper functioning of streetlights. But corporation is doing nothing in this regard. Even if we approach CSML, it will take at least two months to get LED lights repaired," said corporation UDF parliamentary party secretary MG Aristotle."There are multiple agencies involved in the operations of streetlights in the city. A section of streetlights is being maintained by CSML, while corporation's contractors undertake repair of another batch of streetlights. Yet another section of streetlights installed under various projects by MLAs and MP is also there. When we raise the issue of streetlights malfunctioning, contractors deployed by these agencies will engage in a blame game," said mayor M Anilkumar said that issues related to streetlights will be resolved within a month.