Ranchi: With the festive season approaching, the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has initiated steps to illuminate dark spots and narrow lanes across the city by installing 5,300 new LED street lights.The civic body has floated a tender inviting eligible companies to supply, install, test and commission LED street lights of 75 W, 90 W and 120 W capacities. The contract also includes related services and three years of comprehensive maintenance.The new lights will supplement the existing network of around 60,000 street lights across Ranchi. Sourabh Keshri, assistant engineer in RMC’s lights section, said the energy department had already installed poles in previously unlit lanes to ensure that no dark spots remained within the civic body’s jurisdiction before the festivities.Officials said regular surveys and maintenance work were also being carried out to keep existing street lights functional. As many as 28 dedicated teams have been deployed across all 53 wards to patrol neighbourhoods, identify faulty fixtures, address public complaints and install replacement lights wherever necessary.The move follows an internal review meeting held at the RMC headquarters earlier this month. During the meeting, officials noted that the municipal helpline receives more than 1,000 complaints related to faulty street lights every month. Most complaints, they said, are resolved within 48 hours.Additional municipal commissioner Sanjay Kumar said, “Footfall increases significantly during the upcoming festivals, making effective street lighting essential for public convenience, safety and smooth traffic movement.”Kumar has directed the electrical branch teams to work with promptness and coordination to prevent prolonged outages on major roads, at intersections, in market areas, public spaces and residential zones.He also stressed the need for proactive patrolling to identify structural faults at an early stage. Officials have been instructed to treat every complaint seriously, ensure quality repairs and implement permanent solutions in areas reporting recurring technical problems.
