In a major infrastructure push linked to road and women’s security, the Delhi Government has approved a Rs 473-crore project to replace nearly 96,000 street lights across the Capital with smart LED systems capable of real-time monitoring and remote operation.
The decision was taken during an Expenditure Finance Committee meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday, with the government setting a target to complete the transformation before Diwali.
Officials said the project would cover roads maintained by the PWD and include replacement of existing high-pressure sodium vapour (HPSV) lights and older LED fixtures with advanced smart LEDs. Around 5,000 additional poles will also be installed to illuminate stretches currently lacking adequate street lighting.
The move comes amid growing concerns over poorly lit roads, dark spots and delayed repairs caused by the absence of real-time monitoring systems. “Dark spots often remain unattended for long periods, affecting visibility and public safety, especially women’s safety,” said CM Gupta, adding that the new system would provide more uniform lighting while reducing electricity consumption and operational delays.
A key feature of the project will be a centralised command and control centre that would monitor every street light in real time, instantly detect faults and allow remote operation of lighting intensity based on requirement.
PWD Minister Parvesh Verma and senior officials were present during the meeting. Verma suggested giving the project a special name due to its scale and significance. According to the government, the smart lighting system is expected to generate annual electricity savings of nearly Rs 25 crore once fully operational.
