The Delhi Government would sanction Rs 125 crores for sprucing up the streetlights on the PWD roads in the run up to the Commonwealth Games. The proposal of the PWD to give an aesthetic look to the streetlights is likely to be cleared by the Finance Department next week.
Finance Minister AK Walia said: "We will have modern and uniform streetlights on all important roads well before the 2010 Games."
All the poles would be changed on the 380-km long PWD roads. Sheet steel fabricated octagonal galvanised poles, mounted on concrete pedestal would be the feature of the new lighting system. Presently, the poles are just inserted into the ground due to which they get uprooted easily. "These would appeal to the aesthetics," said Walia. Each of the new poles would have an average span of 25 years as compared to 5 years of the present ones.
The main routes to be covered under the new streetlights would be NH-1, NH-2 and NH-8. There would be a contract for five-year maintenance of the system with the private party which constructs them.
Apart from the streetlights, the government wants to change the street furniture and install new ones at prominent places. The biggest problem which the officials are facing is choosing a design which is "theft proof". "The problem of theft of street furniture and iron railings on roads is one of the biggest problem for us. We are looking for designs which cannot be uprooted and is inserted deep on a concrete base," a senior official told HT. Officials said the thieves have become so active that in some cases, they manage to remove the railings and street furniture within hours of their installation.
{{/usCountry}}Apart from the streetlights, the government wants to change the street furniture and install new ones at prominent places. The biggest problem which the officials are facing is choosing a design which is "theft proof". "The problem of theft of street furniture and iron railings on roads is one of the biggest problem for us. We are looking for designs which cannot be uprooted and is inserted deep on a concrete base," a senior official told HT. Officials said the thieves have become so active that in some cases, they manage to remove the railings and street furniture within hours of their installation.
{{/usCountry}}So far, several private companies have made presentations to the government for street furniture. "We are in the process of finalising the design which is theft proof and maintenance free," the official added.
Email Amitabh Shukla: ashukla@hindustantimes.com