Madurai corpn taps ad agencies to light up city roads
Under the new arrangement, agencies allowed to erect hoardings on stretches like Anna Nagar, K K Nagar, Kamarajar Salai, TPK Road, and Sellur must also install LED streetlights on the same poles. They will cover both installation and maintenance, as well as electricity costs — a move the corporation says benefits both public safety and its coffers.
"Since these agencies seek permission for hoarding poles, we've asked them to mount lights on the same structures and ensure proper upkeep," corporation commissioner Chitra Vijayan told TOI.
"Their electricity consumption will also be at their own expense, reducing the civic body's recurring costs."
Officials noted that with limited staff and overlapping responsibilities in road and construction work, monitoring streetlights has been inconsistent. To address this, the corporation's town planning wing has integrated lighting responsibilities into advertising contracts. So far, three agencies have signed formal agreements to install lights along portions of Anna Nagar and K K Nagar.
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"These agreements include clauses mandating maintenance and electricity coverage," a senior official said. In K K Nagar, some lights have already been installed on central medians, a move welcomed by traffic activists. "Mounting lights on medians improves road visibility and pedestrian safety," said T Nageshwaran, a traffic activist.
Meanwhile, the corporation is also pushing ahead with a ₹5-crore project to improve lighting citywide. A new contractor will soon be appointed to repair faulty lights and improve illumination in residential areas. Additionally, over 4,500 new streetlights are being procured based on ward-level assessments, with installation already underway in extended areas using previously purchased lights worth ₹3.52 crore.
Officials said these combined efforts aim to make Madurai's streets safer, brighter, and more energy-efficient.
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