30% of Ahmedabad Street Lights Turn Dim, AMC Prepares Multi-Crore Purchase Despite Active Maintenance Contract
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Over 80,000 street lights across Ahmedabad have yellowed and lost brightness, prompting the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to initiate fresh procurement processes despite an existing maintenance arrangement.
The issue was raised during an AMC Standing Committee meeting following widespread public complaints regarding poor street illumination. Officials revealed that approximately 30 per cent of the city's total 2.15 lakh street lights have aged significantly, with units installed as recently as 2021 turning yellow and emitting reduced light. Standing Committee Chairman Kamlesh Patel instructed authorities to replace the affected units, triggering concerns over a massive burden on the civic exchequer.
Contractor Accountability Questioned Over Expired Tenders
According to civic sources, around 40,000 internal road lights and 40,000 Town Planning (TP) road lights require immediate replacement. The development comes at a time when AMC continues to pay crores of rupees to private firms for regular operation and maintenance.
- Validity Expiry: The primary maintenance tender validity has expired, leaving sub-contractors to execute repairs under previous contractual terms.
- Contractor Obligation: Official sources claim that under the original agreement, the maintenance agency remains responsible for replacing defective or yellowed lights within their operational scope.
- Warranty Overlap: Standard street lights carry a five-year warranty. Despite several batch installations turning yellow before completing their full warranty period, AMC is pushing forward with fresh tenders rather than holding contractors liable.
Escalating Procurement Costs Across Road Categories
Replacement costs vary based on wattage and road classification. Internal roads utilize 20-watt lights priced at approximately Rs 2,500 each.
Major TP roads require higher wattage units, driving overall replacement figures exponentially higher:
- 45-Watt Lights: Estimated at Rs 4,000 per unit.
- 60-Watt Lights: Estimated at Rs 5,200 per unit.
- 90-Watt Lights: Estimated at Rs 5,800 per unit.
- 120-Watt Lights: Estimated at Rs 6,600 per unit.
Buying fresh inventory to replace 80,000 fixtures will cost the municipal body crores of rupees. Observers note that an enquiry is required to clarify why public funds are being committed to new purchases when existing warranty clauses and contractor terms cover premature equipment failure.
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