Chennai: A Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) audit has found that 2,798 of the 3.11 lakh streetlights maintained by the civic body—about 0.9%—were not functioning.Of these, 1,501 were at sites where stormwater drain, Chennai Metro Rail and Metrowater projects were under way. The audit identified faults in 945 LED lights, while underground cable failures affected another 352.The inspection, conducted on the night of July 15 under the direction of corporation commissioner G S Sameeran, covered all 3,11,285 streetlights maintained by GCC. These include lights on roads and streets and at flyovers, subways, parks, bus termini, Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board housing colonies, crematoriums and other public spaces. Senior officials were deployed across all 15 zones to check the lights.GCC officials said vacancies for assistant engineers and assistant executive engineers in the electrical department had affected operations.“Only 13 of the 24 assistant executive engineer posts have been filled, and seven assistant engineers have been placed in additional charge. An official has to oversee three wards besides their own. Even if we receive 10 complaints a day, it is difficult for one officer to visit every location and initiate repairs the same day,” an official said.The staff shortage has also hampered underground cable repairs, preparation of estimates and pruning of branches obstructing streetlights, officials said.Promotions of GCC streetlight engineers have been stalled by a dispute between two groups of officials over one group being given alleged preferential treatment. A court stay has held up the promotion process.Sameeran, however, said the vacancies had not affected streetlight repairs. “Usually, around 1% of streetlights face problems. Promotions have been held up by litigation involving two groups of officials. The govt is working to have the stay vacated,” he said.Officials were directed to identify lights obstructed by tree branches and undertake pruning every week. Tree trimming will also be carried out as part of routine streetlight maintenance.Residents can report non-functional streetlights through GCC’s 1913 helpline.
