Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Mayor concerned over city's poor street lighting

Staff Reporter

Subramanian to conduct surprise inspections to check if lights are working

CHENNAI : The Chennai Corporation is concerned about the poor street lighting in the city of late and is looking to remedy the situation urgently.

On Tuesday, Mayor M. Subramanian told officials at a review meeting that he would take up surprise inspections every Wednesday to ascertain that the non-burn ratio of street lights (proportion of non-working lamps) is kept at the lowest possible level. The ratio was above 20 per cent in Tondiarpet, Basin Bridge and Adyar zones, all zones where the street light maintenance have been privatised on a trial basis. Officials believe that ideally the non-burn ratio should not be more than 3 to 4 per cent.

Mr. Subramanian told reporters that he had received several complaints over the poor maintenance of streetlights in recent weeks and that he had already warned the private contractor handling the maintenance in the three zones. He told officials that he would carry out surprise inspections every Wednesday; officials will know only the zone of inspection, but will not know the exact division.

Mayor on Tuesday received 268 petitions and directed the officials to follow them up. A press release said Mr. Subramanian and other officials would receive petitions pertaining to Basin Bridge Zone (2) on Friday at a public meeting to be held at the Corporation community hall on St. Xaviers Street.

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