Residents across all 100 wards of the city corporation continue to grapple with inadequate streetlighting, a problem that has contributed to frequent road mishaps. As of now, 273 complaints related to faulty or dimly-lit streetlights remain unresolved on the civic body’s online portal.
Corporation Commissioner Chitra Vijayan acknowledged the ongoing concerns, noting that out of the city’s 61,000+ streetlights, around 2% — roughly 1,200 lights — are replaced each month. However, the pace has not kept up with the volume of complaints.
The issue remains a recurring topic at council meetings. In the most recent session, Zone V Chairperson V. Suvitha urged the civic body to upgrade to high-voltage lighting in darker zones like Muthupatti. Other councillors also pressed for better inventory management, demanding that adequate replacement stock be maintained at every zone for quicker resolution.
Residents, meanwhile, pointed out that small lanes are disproportionately neglected compared to main roads, increasing the risk of accidents in those areas.
In response, Chitra announced that seven tenders have been floated for the installation of new and high-intensity lights across Zones 1, 2, 3, and 5 at a combined cost of ₹25 lakh. She assured prompt action, adding that maintenance of the entire streetlight network is managed by a private contractor.