GUWAHATI, Sept 13 � The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has initiated a major exercise for repair and renovation of streetlights across the city.
Officials sources told The Assam Tribune that among the roads being covered under the scheme are GNB Road from Noonmati flyover to the District Library (including Chandmari flyover high mast), MG Road (from Planetarium to Bharalu bridge), TR Phookun Road and Athgaon overbridge, AT Road (from Bharalu bridge to Dunlop bridge), GS Road, GMCH Road, Panjabari Road, Tripura Road, Supermarket to Last Gate, RP Road, road from MLA Hostel backside to Hatigaon Chariali, RG Baruah Road, Mother Teresa Path, SC Goswami Path, Danish Road, HB Road, Jaswant Road, Gopal Road, Station Road, Kamakhya Temple High mast and parking area.
�Work has already started from the first week of August in GS Road, MG Road and TR Phookun Road and considerable progress has been made. It is expected that work will be completed within two months,� sources said.
It is noteworthy that the PWD (Electrical) Department was earlier entrusted with installation and maintenance of streetlights in the major roads of the city, including GR Road, RG Baruah Road, GNB Road and MG Road.
GMC was mainly looking after the streetlights in the lanes and bylanes of the city.
As per direction of the Chief Secretary on April 28, the GMC recently took over the streetlights of the city, including the major roads. Accordingly, after physical inspection of all the streetlights and ancillary fittings along the major roads, repair and renovation was initiated by the GMC.
�High mast lights have also been installed at many locations,� said an official, adding that among the places where they have been made operational are Basistha Mandir, Gauhati Medical College rotary, near TB Hospital, Panbazar flyover, Paltanbazar ASTC complex, Nabagraha cremation ground, Guwahati Club rotary, Zoo Road Tiniali, Adabari Bus terminus, Khanapara (near overbridge), GS Road (near Rajiv Bhawan) and Narengi.
Besides, work of installation of streetlights in many other roads have been completed and service connection from the Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL) is being awaited.
Work has been taken up for installation of high power sodium vapour lamps at Hengrabari main road, Nepali Mandir to Sarabbhati Road, Fatasil Bridge to Ambari Tiniali, Hatigaon Chariali upto National Highway- 37, Birubari main road, Guwahati College main road, Basistha Mandir (approach road), Patorkuchi main road, Beltola Hatigaon Sanjogi Path and PNGB Road.
LED streetlights are being installed at Pakija Path, Bhaskar Jyoti bylane No. 6, Saurav Nagar main road, Green Park Colony and Pragjyotish Nagar main road.
A scheme has been taken up in respect of 134 lanes and bylanes of the city for installation of 1x36 watt CFL streetlights on the existing APDCL connections.
�The State Government has been requested to provide a sum of Rs 25.27 crore for providing streetlights in all the major roads, lanes and bylanes which do not have streetlights at present. Discussion has been initiated with the International Financial Corporation (World Bank wing) to study the streetlighting system in Guwahati and suggest ways for their maintenance on public-private partnership basis,� said an official.
