NMC saves moolah with LED lights, some streets pitch dark

Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has reduced its expenditure on streetlights in the last seven years by shifting from sodium vapour lights to energy-efficient LED lights. In the process, the civic body brought down power bills and installed more streetlights, but several thoroughfares within the city limits still remain inadequately illuminated.According to citizens, streetlights are non-functional even along roads that see heavy traffic, such as the Bole Petrol Pump Square to Ravi Nagar Road and beyond.
NMC had begun its ambitious project to replace sodium vapour street lights with LEDs in 2017-18. As per data obtained from NMC’s electrical department, 55.6 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity was needed to switch on 137,127 streetlights in 2017-18, and the yearly energy bill was 36.63 crore. In the last financial year (2023-24), NMC paid 29.5 crore for powering up 1,60,045 streetlights that needed 29.5 million kWh energy.

“The transition to LED streetlights has been a success, resulting in lower energy costs and expansion in streetlight coverage,” said an official adding, “This underscores the need of continued investment in energy-efficient technologies to manage future consumption and costs effectively.”
Citizens, however, point to the darker side behind the light. Sheikh Shahnawaz, a resident of north Nagpur, said there still exist poorly-lit roads where accidents could occur during heavy downpour due to reduced visibility.
Shahnawaz cited the example of the recently inaugurated flyover in Shanti Nagar connecting north and east Nagpur. “Streetlights installed on one side of the flyover have been non-functional for the past two weeks. Notwithstanding repeated complaints, the situation persists,” he said.
The railway overbridge connecting Shanti Nagar, Kawarapet with Namdev Nagar in north Nagpur was opened in March this year. Within the next three months, all streetlights on the north Nagpur side of the flyover went defunct. “Due to the streetlights being off, residents are facing significant difficulties,” said Shahnawaz, who is also North Nagpur Youth Congress general secretary, claiming it discrimination against North Nagpur. He threatened to launch a protest if streetlights don’t become functional soon.
In 2018-19 and 2019-20, energy consumption remained relatively stable, with slight decrease in the electricity bill despite an increase in the total number of street lights to 1,39,674 and 1,43,726, respectively. The switch to LED lights led to reduction in the power bills to 34.37 crore and 23.30 crore, respectively.
There was a sharp decline in energy consumption to 22.7 million kWh in 2020-21, likely due to reduced activity and operational adjustments during the Covid-19 pandemic. Though the number of street lights increased to 144,164, the energy bill dipped to 19.5 crore.
As the world began to recover from the pandemic, energy consumption increased to 27.2 million kWh in 2021-22 when 1,49,638 street lights illuminated the city. The energy bill also increased to ₹21.11 crore.
In 2022-23, NMC paid 24.89 crore for 27.2 million kWh energy consumed to switch on 1,56,413 streetlights. Energy consumption increased to 29.5 million KWH in 2023-24.