Street lighting becoming a significant concern in city

Implementation of smart street lights has been stalled

BBMP promises tenders will be called once elections conclude

Bengaluru, once the first city in Asia to receive an electricity connection, is now grappling with severe infrastructure issues. Complaints regarding water supply, road conditions, and electricity are rampant, with the state of street lighting becoming a significant concern.

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The city corporation, responsible for the maintenance of street lights, has been under fire for its delayed actions and alleged violations of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act. Tenders for street light maintenance were initially called in 2019, but since then, the implementation of smart street lights has been stalled. Social activist Amaresh has criticized the Corporation Commissioner for not re-tendering contracts awarded in 2014, calling it a breach of the KTPP Act.

The BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath attributes the delays to the election code of conduct, promising that tenders will be called once the election process concludes. The current maintenance issues and the delayed tendering process have raised concerns about the city’s governance and its impact on Bengaluru’s reputation.

To address these problems, the corporation plans to introduce a new tender for installing smart street lights. However, before proceeding, it is urged that the corporation should engage with existing contractors to address the lack of proper maintenance and hold them accountable. This step is crucial to ensure that future projects do not face similar issues and that the city’s infrastructure is adequately maintained.