The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has sent a requisition to the State Government for installation of 20,000 new street lights across the city.

Deputy Mayor Sanjiv Vijayavargiya informed that while 45,000 street lights have already been installed in the city by ESL but there are still a number of places which need more street lights.

“While poles are installed on a regular basis, the latest survey conducted around three months ago showed that there are at least 20,000 newly installed poles which have still not been fitted with street lights. We have sent a requisition to the State Government to get the street lights installed at these areas by EESL,” he said.

Around three years ago, the State Government had signed a memorandum of understanding with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) for installation of street lights across the State. Following this, the Ranchi Municipal Corporation had been directed to not install the street lights by itself.

Vijayavargiya said, “EESL installed 45,000 lights across the city but when we got demands for more street lights in the city, we requested the Government to allow us to install these lights using our public utility funds. However, our request was denied as the contract with the EESL still stands.”

Following this, RMC then sent a requisition to the State government to get EESL to install the street lights required. “We will pay EESL from the funds of 14th finance commission for installation of the lights in all the 53 wards. Also, the lights, which are defunct, will be change,” the deputy mayor said.

The plan of installation of more street lights is being appreciated by the common public, especially women.

Archana Singh, a working woman said, “While there are street lights in most of the main roads, there are still a few lanes which are completely dark and walking alone at night on way to home on these roads really scares me. However, if street lights are installed in these areas women will feel a lot safer.”