Bhubaneswar: The State Cabinet has sanctioned a massive ₹350.04 Crore project to install smart, energy-efficient LED streetlights in 110 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across the state. This initiative, focused on retrofitting existing infrastructure, aims to significantly improve public safety and security in urban areas.
The project addresses a growing need for enhanced public lighting, which has steadily increased with the expansion of ULB jurisdictions. The initiative will involve replacing defective lighting components and providing ongoing operation and maintenance for existing streetlights. The state’s Cabinet initially approved the project during its 69th meeting on December 30, 2023.
Following a thorough joint survey by bidders, ULB representatives, and an independent engineer to identify specific retrofitting needs, work orders totaling ₹350.04 Crores were issued on June 28, 2024, to six different implementing agencies.
The project’s funding plan utilizes ₹150 Crores already available with the Odisha Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (OUIDF). A proposal has been placed before the Cabinet to approve the use of an additional ₹200 Crores from OUIDF’s own recovered funds to bridge the remaining financial gap. The project is now actively under implementation in all 110 ULBs, marking a significant step toward modernizing urban infrastructure in Odisha.