Large parts of Thiruvananthapuram city remain in darkness despite a Rs 9.5-crore LED streetlight project covering over 1.1 lakh lights, following the breakdown of the centralized control and monitoring system (CCMS). The failure has made it difficult to identify and repair faulty lights, leading to prolonged outages across several wards and raising safety concerns.
Maintenance Clause Violations Worsen Crisis
The situation has been worsened by violations of a key maintenance clause that mandates repairs within 48 hours, officials in the corporation said. They admitted that this timeline is frequently breached, with several streetlights remaining non-functional for weeks and even months.
Mayor V V Rajesh said the corporation has taken note of the issue. "There are shortcomings in the monitoring system and delays in maintenance. We are examining the matter and will take necessary steps to ensure repairs are carried out within the stipulated time," he said.
Contractor Responsibilities and Failures
A senior corporation official said maintenance responsibilities have been divided among three companies across different zones, including the city area, Kazhakkoottam and regions near Karamana. "As per the agreement, faulty streetlights must be repaired within 48 hours. However, this is not being followed on the ground," the official said.
He added that the scale of the issue has grown significantly in recent months. "We have around one lakh streetlights under the corporation and thousands have become non-functional. In many areas, these lights have remained defunct for months despite repeated complaints," he said.
CCMS Malfunction Compounds Problems
Officials pointed out that the malfunctioning CCMS has further aggravated the problem. The system, designed to remotely monitor streetlights, is unable to pinpoint the exact location of faults. "We are often forced to rely on field staff or public complaints to identify faulty lights, which delays repair work," the official added.
Project Background and Accountability Issues
The LED project, implemented across three zones with private contractors responsible for long-term maintenance, was aimed at improving efficiency and reducing power consumption. However, delays in repairs have raised concerns over enforcement of maintenance clauses and accountability of contractors.
Officials noted that the contract includes provisions to impose penalties or even terminate agreements if companies fail to meet deadlines, but it remains unclear whether any such action has been taken.
