LED panels to replace 1K sodium vapour lights from Ultadanga to airport on VIP Road by Dec
Times of India | 22 October 2024
Kolkata: The 8.4km-long VIP Road stretch from Ultadanga to the airport is all set to have brighter illumination by this Christmas with all the existing sodium vapour streetlights to be replaced with LED lights. The state public works department (PWD) is taking up work as close to 1,000 existing sodium vapour lights will be replaced with new LED panels.
“Work order has been issued and the project is expected to be completed by this Dec,” said a PWD official. The estimated cost to replace the old lights with LED panels has been pegged at Rs 2.6 crore. Work is expected to start after Diwali.
Officials said that there are about 500 electric poles on the VIP Road median stretch with two light panels on each of the poles. “There will be 180 watt and 250 watt capacity LED panels which will be installed on the stretch as per requirements,” said an official.
Officials said that presently, about Rs 1 crore per annum of electricity bill gets generated from electricity consumption throughout the VIP Road stretch and this will get reduced to about half once the lights switch to LED mode. “Not only would it give brighter illumination, nearly Rs 50 lakh of electricity cost will be reduced,” said an official.
During the inauguration of the biodiversity park on the stretch off VIP Road from Bangur to Dum Dum Park last year fire and emergency services minister and Bidhannagar MLA Sujit Bose had announced the plan to illuminate the entire VIP Road stretch with LED lights by replacing the old sodium vapour lights.
The PWD is also preparing a plan to replace the existing grille railing on the median divider of VIP Road with new refurbished and architecturally aesthetic looking railings. “Various architectural design options are being explored to set up the new railings, in line with the city’s heritage and culture. The design could be modernised with a trendy look with a touch of Victorian era architectural style. The proposal is under preparation,” said an official.