However, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is unlikely to take any steps in this direction. The civic administration has said that there is no need to install more streetlights as all the roads and streets in the city are well-lit.

The ministry had quoted the Justice Verma committee report, which, in its recommendation had highlighted the importance of good street lighting for the safety and security of women. "Streetlights everywhere would provide more safety since the areas without them are more prone to facilitate crimes," the committee had said.

However, civic officials said there is no immediate plan to have more streetlights, except in some fringe areas that have been merged with the municipal limits. "We have good street lighting arrangements across the city. In fact, there are some streets with additional lights. There are at least 10,000-15,000 streetlights in each of the 15 divisional zones across the city. However, there could be some areas in the fringes where street lights are not adequate," said Shriniwas Kandul, superintendent engineer of the PMC's electrical department.He said they had not received any complaints about inadequate street lighting.

Citizens have refuted his claim and said there are many areas in the city that could do with better street lighting. Satish Khot, president of the National Society for Clean Cities, said, "There is no uniform lighting and bulbs fail to light up, resulting in dark patches. In some areas, such as North Main Road in Koregaon Park and in Kalyaningar, old poles have not been removed after road widening. There have been accidents after two-wheelers hit these poles as it was dark," he said.

At main junctions in the city and in the fringe areas, adequate street lights and high masts were needed, he added. "At many places, branches of trees block the light. They have to be trimmed regularly and in coordination with the traffic department," Khot said.

Citizen activist Binod Ojha said street lighting arrangements in some areas of Lohegaon are inadequate. "Although there are street lights, visibility is poor. In some areas, there is total darkness," he said. Civic officials must visit fringe areas to have a clear picture of the requirement for street lights, he added.

A Fergusson College Road resident said the arterial road near the Shivajinagar police station was poorly lit and the lanes had some light only because of the buildings and flats.

"There are long stretches of the B T Kawade Road that are unlit. It is a main road, but the lights are dim and there is no high mast," said a resident.

Salunke Vihar Road too is dimly lit." My gold chain was grabbed and I could not see the chain snatchers because the road is poorly lit," said Mabel D'Souza.

In its advisory, the ministry had said that one of the important functions of urban local bodies is to make provision for street lights. "Street lighting is critical for public authorities due to its strategic importance for economic and social activities as well as enhanced security of citizens. It not only improves vehicular traffic and pedestrians' security, but helps in enhancing safety of citizens, especially women," the advisory said.

Research conducted in the past has suggested that improved street lighting discourages potential offenders as they are at risk of being identified easily, the ministry said. "We feel safer in a well-lit street. Besides, police presence becomes more visible, thus leading to prevention of crimes. Improved street-lighting can encourage more people to walk at night, which also increases informal surveillance," the ministry added.

A meeting of secretaries held in January, after the gang rape of a 23-year-old woman in New Delhi in a moving bus, stressed on the need for increased focus on street lighting in public places. "Civic bodies must undertake a review of the existing facilities and strengthen the system wherever required," urban development secretary Sudhir Krishna said in his letter to the state governments.

'Use energy-efficient methods'

Street lighting costs can be cut drastically with the use of new energy-efficient technologies and design. The Union urban development ministry observed that by saving money, the need for new generating plants is either reduced or eliminated and could also provide capital for alternative energy solutions for people in remote areas. The savings could also enable municipal corporations to expand street lighting in low-income and other underserved areas. Civic officials said that a plan for using LED lights is in the offing, which will improve street lighting and be cost-effective. Solar power is used for lighting gardens in some areas, the officials added.