With festive season little more than a month away, the Ranchi Municipal Corporation and Government authorities seem to be leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the capital looks its best when the festivities begin.
In this regard, the initiative of covering every artery and alleyway across city in bright white light of light emitting diode streetlights before Durga Puja celebrations commence in the city is making good headway, claim the Ranchi Municipal Corporation functionaries overseeing the project.
“Streetlights on every major street in the city, around Morhabadi Ground, Main Road, Harmu bypass road, Kutchery Chowk, among others, have already been upgraded to lED lights from sodium vapour lights. Now, we have begun work on putting up lED street lights in interior areas of various wards. Under this phase of work, 300 street lights have already been equipped with lED lights,” stated RMC Section Incharge (light) Nagendra Dubey.
Corroborating his statement, Ward 28 Ward Councillor Ashok Kumar Baraik stated, “As far as my ward is concerned, the work of putting up lED lights is almost done, just a few alleys left to cover. Pace of work is going on in a similar pace. The focus is now on the slum areas of the city; these regions will get lED street lamps within a week or so. Before Durga Puja, the entire city will bask in the milky-white luminescence of lED lights.”
During a review meeting last Monday, Chief Secretary Rajeev Gauba had laid down the deadline of Durga Puja holidays for the shift from sodium vapour streets lights to lED ones. He also ordered that the high-mast lights should also be covered under the project, their maintenance handed over to mobile tower companies, who can use them as mobile towers in exchange of monthly fees.
Gauba has also ordered that the rejuvenation and beautification of Harmu River be completed within the stipulated time frame and Detailed Project Reports be formed for the rejuvenation of 21 ponds in the city.
The State High Court has also instructed the state water resources and urban development departments and RMC to clean the water reservoirs in the city within a month and submit a status report regarding the same.
Further orders will be passed if the status report reflects any gaps in the project. The Court issued these instructions in light of the auspicious Chhath Puja, which is two and a half months away.