The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has planned to convert the streetlights of newly developed sectors on nine stretches into a smart network. According to the project officials, it has the potential to decrease operating expenses as it would give web-based control of the light fixtures and the network. The first-of-its-kind initiative would be implemented on roads connecting Sectors 76 and 77, 75A and 76, 75 and 75A, 73 and 74, 71 and 73, 70 and 75, 70 and 70A, 68 and 69, and 68 and 70, home to several schools, gated societies, offices, and commercial spaces and witness a lot of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The officials told the media that the smart network, unlike usual streetlights, would be linked to the GMDA's Integrated Command and Control Centre, allowing authorities to monitor, control, and dim them remotely using a cloud-based application. The authority, which invited bids for the project this week, expects to complete it within six months. The project would cost GMDA nearly Rs 10.9 crore. Shitij Kumar, a GMDA executive engineer, said that these smart lights would have a pre-programmed operating schedule, unlike regular streetlights, and would enable the control centre to manage the brightness. For instance, if traffic reduces post-midnight, they can switch from 120 watts to 60 watts to save power consumption. Kumar informed that the nine stretches in the newly developed sectors would be the first areas in the city to get a smart streetlight network. At present, Delhi has a similar network near Rashtrapati Bhavan and the presidential estate. Image Source Also read: GMDA to build new master road for sector 109 and 112 in Gurugram