The yellow glow of conventional vapour lamps lighting the streets of Ranchi will soon be replaced by the bright white luminescence of light Emitting Diode (lED), as Ranchi Municipal Corporation plans to install lED lights in all the standing street lamps of the city.
lED street lamps have already been installed and are functioning on crucial routes in the city like Harmu Bypass, areas around JSCA Stadium, Morhabadi Ground and the stretch between Hinoo roundabout and Project Building, with other routes in the pipeline.
“We have prepared a DPR for installing lED lights in 3,000 street lamps with a total funding of `8.73 crore. We will be beginning work on the street from Kutchery Chowk to Dangratoli, which will take around a week to complete. Next we will be focussing on Main Road where the street lamps will get lED lights by August 15,” informed RMC Section In-charge (light) Nagendra Dubey.
Approximately 29,000 street lamps all over the city will be given lED bulbs in due course of time, Dubey added.
The lED lamps, which provide more light compared to the conventional street lamps, will be helpful in lighting dark corners of the city where criminal incidents often take place.
“Presence of light gives a sense of security to people. Citizens of Ranchi, especially girls who live alone here, avoid going out after dark due to fear of a probable mishap. Installing lights in crucial parts of the city will allow them to go about their duties without worrying about criminals,” said State Women Commission chief Mahua Manjhi.
But not all the members of the civil society are equally satisfied with the progress of municipal coprporation’s efforts made in this direction.
“Installing lED lights in posh areas of the city will not be of much help in keeping criminals at bay. The wrongdoers mostly frequent the dark by-lanes of the city and this is where most of the crimes happen. If RMC extends its efforts to the alleys and lanes of the city, then the effort will be truly successful,” said FJCCI General Secretary Pawan Sharma.