Rangamati village in Assam’s Kamrup rural district has received a significant infrastructure upgrade to enhance road safety and mitigate human–elephant conflict: solar-powered street lighting has been installed along its main thoroughfares. 

The project covers approximately one kilometre of village roads, providing consistent lighting from dusk to dawn. Operated by solar panels and backed by battery storage, these lights offer zero-operational-cost functionality while ensuring safety for both villagers and wildlife. Luminaries are strategically placed to illuminate key crossings and reduce the risk of encounters between humans and elephants during night-time hours.

This intervention follows a marked rise in local human–elephant incidents, which have caused roadside accidents and posed a threat to both communities and wildlife. Local residents have welcomed the initiative, expressing relief that the new lighting should deter wildlife movement on busy roads and allow safer crossings at critical times.

The solar lighting project exemplifies a low-cost, environmentally friendly solution that addresses rural safety issues through the integration of renewable energy. It reinforces Assam’s growing focus on deploying sustainable infrastructure to resolve human–wildlife conflicts and protect vulnerable communities.