Kochi roads lack proper streetlights

25 Jan 2022 CW Team

Despite spending about Rs 27 crore a year on energy costs and maintenance costs of streetlights, many of the roads in the city lack proper streetlights.

Lack of appropriate monitoring and absence of staff to manage problems related to street lighting is the significant issue that leads to poor streetlight systems in the city. The corporation shells out Rs 17 crore as energy costs every year. The yearly maintenance cost would come from approximately Rs 2.5 crore to Rs 3 crore. For rendering infrastructure for streetlights, it spends about Rs 7 crore yearly. Yet, there aren’t proper streetlights in many parts of the city, as per the former councillor C K Peter.

He told the media that Kerala State Electricity Board Ltd (KSEB) is making a rough estimate on the energy usage for streetlights rather than taking an actual meter reading. In 2013, the KSEB and Kochi corporation began a joint venture (JV) to replace all the current streetlights with LED lights. Yet, the project is still unfinished. Of the over one lakh streetlights in the city, less than 15,000 have been replaced with LED lights.

At the same time, the corporation officials told the media that they are trying their utmost to guarantee proper streetlights in the city. When they assumed power a year back, there weren’t streetlights on many of the roads comprising the Metro corridor. They held several rounds of meetings with the KSEB authorities.

Yet, they are trying to render proper streetlights all over the city, as per mayor M Anilkumar. He told the media that to ensure a proper maintenance system, they have decided to charge an agency for the purpose. They have floated an expression of interest for the same and two firms have evinced interest. They are going forward with the procedures.

They have to replace all the current streetlights with LED lights to save a large amount being spent on energy costs. They would be asking for the help of Cochin Smart Mission Ltd (CSML) for the objective.

Image Source

Also read: Govt appoints KIIFB as PMC for Kochi smart city projects

Also read: Kochi Metro floats tender for e-auto services - Construction World

"Join industry leaders at RAHSTA Expo, India's premier platform for roads, highways and traffic infrastructure. Register now to explore innovations, network with experts and shape the future of mobility."

Despite spending about Rs 27 crore a year on energy costs and maintenance costs of streetlights, many of the roads in the city lack proper streetlights. Lack of appropriate monitoring and absence of staff to manage problems related to street lighting is the significant issue that leads to poor streetlight systems in the city. The corporation shells out Rs 17 crore as energy costs every year. The yearly maintenance cost would come from approximately Rs 2.5 crore to Rs 3 crore. For rendering infrastructure for streetlights, it spends about Rs 7 crore yearly. Yet, there aren’t proper streetlights in many parts of the city, as per the former councillor C K Peter. He told the media that Kerala State Electricity Board Ltd (KSEB) is making a rough estimate on the energy usage for streetlights rather than taking an actual meter reading. In 2013, the KSEB and Kochi corporation began a joint venture (JV) to replace all the current streetlights with LED lights. Yet, the project is still unfinished. Of the over one lakh streetlights in the city, less than 15,000 have been replaced with LED lights. At the same time, the corporation officials told the media that they are trying their utmost to guarantee proper streetlights in the city. When they assumed power a year back, there weren’t streetlights on many of the roads comprising the Metro corridor. They held several rounds of meetings with the KSEB authorities. Yet, they are trying to render proper streetlights all over the city, as per mayor M Anilkumar. He told the media that to ensure a proper maintenance system, they have decided to charge an agency for the purpose. They have floated an expression of interest for the same and two firms have evinced interest. They are going forward with the procedures. They have to replace all the current streetlights with LED lights to save a large amount being spent on energy costs. They would be asking for the help of Cochin Smart Mission Ltd (CSML) for the objective. Image Source Also read: Govt appoints KIIFB as PMC for Kochi smart city projects Also read: Kochi Metro floats tender for e-auto services - Construction World

Infrastructure Urban

02 Jun 2026

VECV Sales Rise 7.8 Per Cent In May 2026

VE Commercial Vehicles recorded sales of 7,978 units in May 2026, compared to 7,401 units in May 2025, registering growth of 7.8 per cent. This included 7,789 units from the Eicher brand and 189 units from the Volvo brand.Eicher branded trucks and buses reported sales of 7,789 units during the month, up 7.3 per cent from 7,258 units a year earlier. In the domestic commercial vehicle market, Eicher sales rose 9.1 per cent to 7,375 units from 6,758 units in May 2025.Exports declined 17.2 per cent to 414 units from 500 units in the corresponding month last year. Volvo Trucks and Volvo Buses recor..

Infrastructure Urban

02 Jun 2026

Table Space Strengthens DESYN Leadership Team

Table Space has announced strategic leadership appointments within DESYN, its integrated Design and Build business, as it looks to strengthen operations across key enterprise and GCC markets in India. DESYN was launched as a strategic extension of Table Space’s workspace solutions portfolio to meet rising demand for agile, high-quality and rapidly deployable enterprise workspaces.Shruti Ookabhoy has joined DESYN as Executive Director and will lead the Design vertical, focusing on design capability, operational excellence and team development across markets. She brings over 22 years of experi..

Infrastructure Transport

02 Jun 2026

Concord Associate Bags Rs 2.79 Bn Kavach Order

Concord Control Systems said its associate company, Progota India, has received a Rs 2.79 bn domestic order from Indian Railways for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of on-board Kavach 4.0 loco equipment.The order is scheduled for execution within 12 months and strengthens Concord’s role in India’s railway safety and signalling ecosystem. Kavach is India’s indigenous automatic train protection system, designed to improve operational safety by helping prevent signal passing at danger and reducing collision risks.Gaurav Lath, Joint Managing Director, Concord Control Syst..