Hubballi: The Hubballi Dharwad Municipal Corporation’s (HDMC) much-anticipated energy efficiency project for streetlights has finally received the official go-ahead. The project was approved on Aug 18 and is seen as a significant step towards sustainable urban development.Under this ambitious project, existing conventional streetlights across the twin cities will be replaced with energy-efficient LED lights. Additionally, the project includes the implementation of a Centralised Control and Monitoring System (CCMS) to manage the entire streetlight network in real time. The initiative is set to be executed over a concession period of seven years, through a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The govt has sanctioned a total cost of Rs 93.6 crore for the project. The decision to move forward with this project came after extensive discussions and deliberations spearheaded by the commissioner of the HDMC. The proposal received strong backing from the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA), which played a crucial role in the decision-making process. After a thorough evaluation of the financial bids, the contract was awarded to the L1 bidder, Tumkuru-based Shri Manju Electricals, who quoted an equated monthly instalment (EMI) of Rs 1.1 crore, inclusive of all applicable taxes.This project is expected to bring about a transformative change in the city’s infrastructure by significantly reducing energy consumption and maintenance costs associated with street lights. The switch to LED technology is anticipated to enhance the quality of street lighting, providing better visibility and safety for residents and commuters. Moreover, the integration of a Centralised Control and Monitoring System will enable real-time monitoring and management of the street lighting network, ensuring optimal performance and quick response to any issues.The project of installing LEDs was actually a project under Hubballi-Dharwad Smart City Limited (HDSCL), which planned to replace 58,000 streetlights with LEDs. From 2018 to 2022, the HDSCL called for tenders over seven times, but as no one participated, the HDSCL handed over the project to HDMC. The municipal corporation prepared a plan to replace 75,000 streetlights.SM Ganachari, executive engineer of the electrical department, HDMC, will implement the project within another couple of weeks. “All formalities with the contractor will be completed soon. Currently, HDMC is paying over Rs 2 crore for electricity bills each month, which will be reduced by Rs 1 crore. Additionally, monthly maintenance costs for streetlights will also be saved. The implementation of this project aligns with the broader goals of promoting energy efficiency and sustainability,” he added.
