The Times of India             10.12.2013

LED to replace sodium vapour lights on streets

RANCHI: Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) and the urban development department are busy preparing a plan to ensure that all roads of the city are lit with LED lights which will replace the sodium vapour lights currently in use. The engineers of the urban development department have been directed to design a blueprint to make the transition possible soon.

At present, there are around 16,000 sodium vapour lights installed across the city as opposed to 1,100 LED lights in Harmu bypass road and Bariatu.

Deputy chief executive officer of the RMC, S K Lal said, "We had sent the proposal to the urban development department. Once its design is approved, LED lights will be bought and installed."

At present sodium vapour lights are installed on poles measuring nine metres, at a distance of 30 to 40 metres. The LED lights, on the other hand, will be installed on seven-metre poles, at a distance of 15 to 20 metres. "The lights will also be computerized and they can be switched on and off automatically," said Lal.

Replacing sodium vapour lights with LED lights will be decrease electricity consumption and benefit the environment. Lal explained, "LED lights consume half the electricity of sodium vapour lights. At present around Rs 3 crore is being spent annually on street lights but with the LED lights, this amount will decline to Rs 1.5 crore every year."