The Hindu               17.08.2013

Automatic streetlights to debut on city roads next week

Starting next week, streetlights on city roads will switch on and off automatically, at the right time — a technology that the civic body plans to adopt if found effective.

Taking another step towards automated street lighting, the civic body will conduct a pilot study over 10 days.

Seven companies including those from Japan will commission automated streetlight monitoring systems across the city.

The Chennai Corporation will study each of the models and identify a suitable technology that can be put in place for automated control of streetlights.

The seven companies submitted proposals after the Corporation called for an expression of interest of the pilot study in May. Eight neighbourhoods in areas such as Nungambakkam, T. Nagar and Velachery will get a range of automated systems next week.

The system, once implemented, will facilitate updating of data on functioning of streetlights and immediate remedial action towards restoration of lights that fail to switch on. The civic body maintains 2.13 lakh streetlights, of which over 3 per cent are ‘not functioning’.

As many as 4,569 individual streetlight fittings in locations including Chintadripet, Ashok Nagar, Velachery and Adyar have already been identified for the pilot project.

The Corporation will receive 1.1 lakh LED fittings to replace old streetlights in eight zones next month. The civic body has opted for LED lights as they last five times longer than sodium vapour lamps.

The initiative is expected to bring down energy consumption to one-third of existing levels. The streetlights will be centrally monitored through a web page in real time after the system is implemented this year. The system will facilitate quick action to restore defects in streetlights.