Initiative begins in Andrews Ganj, every light to be monitored in real time through a central command centre, ₹100 crore in energy savings projected over five years
Agencies to face a penalty of ₹2,000 per light per day for repairs delayed beyond 48 hours, QR codes to be installed on every light
Every corner of Delhi will be illuminated to ensure women’s safety and public convenience: Chief Minister Rekha Gupta
Smart street lights will enhance safety and improve visibility on Delhi’s roads: PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh
New Delhi, October 2026 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday launched a project to install one lakh smart LED street lights under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan. Beginning at the Andrews Ganj bus stop, the initiative will modernise street lighting across various Assembly constituencies in Delhi. The project aims to improve illumination on roads and public spaces, save energy, ensure transparency in monitoring and strengthen street light maintenance. It marks a significant step towards addressing dark spots across the capital, enhancing women’s safety and ensuring safer movement on roads.
During her recent interaction with female students at Delhi University, the Chief Minister was apprised of the shortage of street lights and the problem of dark spots in various parts of the city. Taking these concerns raised by young people into account, the government has taken concrete steps to install smart street lights on the Chief Minister’s directions. The new system will help improve lighting in dark areas and make night-time travel safer and more convenient for women and all other citizens. The event was attended by New Delhi MP Ms. Bansuri Swaraj, Delhi PWD Minister Shri Parvesh Sahib Singh, MLAs Shri Satish Upadhyay, Smt. Shikha Rai, Shri Anil Sharma and Shri Neeraj Basoya, among other dignitaries.
One Lakh Smart LED Lights to Modernise Delhi’s Street Lighting
Under the project, around one lakh street lights across Delhi will be replaced with smart LED lights. The new lights will support individual control and monitoring. Smart feeder pillars will also be installed to make the operation and monitoring of the street lighting system more efficient. Approximately 45,000 high-pressure sodium vapour lamps will be replaced with energy-efficient smart LED lights. This will help reduce electricity consumption and lower electricity bills for street lighting. The project thus prioritises energy efficiency alongside improved illumination through modern technology.
Every Light to Be Monitored Through a Central Command Centre
Under the existing system, real-time information on whether street lights are functioning or have developed faults is not available. Under the new smart system, real-time data on the status of every smart LED light will be available at the central command centre, enabling monitoring and individual control. The project targets 99 per cent functionality of the lights. Faulty lights must be repaired within 48 hours of the fault being reported. Failure to meet this deadline will attract a penalty of ₹2,000 per light per day on the agency concerned, ensuring accountability in maintenance.
Prescribed Illumination Levels to Be Maintained for Seven Years
The project aims to maintain an average illumination level of 35 lux on Delhi’s main roads and 25 lux on service roads for the next seven years. The smart LED lights will have a colour temperature of 3,000 kelvin and a minimum luminous efficacy of 150 lumens per watt. With a uniform colour temperature, these environment-friendly lights are expected to provide better illumination in foggy conditions, maintain lighting quality in accordance with prescribed standards and improve visibility for road users.
Project Also Covers Maintenance, Theft and Vandalism
The smart street light project covers not only the installation of lights but also their regular maintenance and cases involving theft and vandalism. The PWD will oversee the overall monitoring of the lights, while real-time data from the smart lights will be transmitted to the central command centre. Individual monitoring and control will help identify faulty lights, facilitate repairs and improve the overall management of the system. This integrated approach will help keep Delhi’s street lighting system operational over the long term.
Initiative Towards a Safer and More Convenient Delhi
The Chief Minister said that installing one lakh smart LED street lights in Delhi was a historic step in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India. The lights will be monitored through a central control and command centre. Each light will carry a QR code that citizens can scan to access information about it and register complaints. Smart scheduling will automatically increase illumination in the evening and reduce it in the morning, helping save electricity. The project is expected to generate savings of around ₹100 crore over the next five years. Accountability has been fixed for repairing faulty lights, and the agency concerned will be penalised if repairs are not completed within the stipulated time. The Delhi Government is committed to providing better public services through modern technology, transparency and accountability.
Smart Lights to Enhance Safety
Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said the project would establish a modern smart street lighting system across Delhi, improving visibility for road users and helping make night-time travel safer. He said the project placed special emphasis not only on installing lights but also on their regular maintenance and effective monitoring. Smart technology would enable the status of each light to be tracked, helping identify faults and ensure timely repairs. He added that the government’s effort was to provide better basic amenities to Delhi residents while making the capital’s roads and public spaces brighter, safer and better organised.
