Thiruvananthapuram still in darkness; failure of project to install street lights; company removed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Months have passed since the mayor announced that the city would be illuminated, but the city is still in darkness. The main streets and side roads are in darkness after the project to install street lights in 56 important wards of the city failed. Ward councillors have been flooded with complaints in many places. The Corporation has removed a company called AR Constructions that defaulted on the contract. The failure of the project announced with great fanfare has also embarrassed the Corporation. It is alleged that there is a mystery behind the delay in detecting the default of the company that was awarded the contract.

Tender again

The project has to be tendered again with the change of contractor. This will have to wait for months. There were many complaints against the company for not installing lights properly, not following the terms of the contract, and not doing maintenance work. The company was changed after repeated requests were not implemented. The Corporation explained that the work has been completed in the other two divisions. There are three electrical sub-divisions in the Corporation, namely Thiruvananthapuram, Kazhakoottam, and Neyyattinkara. The Corporation also informed that the electricity charge in the Neyyattinkara division, where the project has been completed, has been reduced by Rs. 3 lakh compared to before.

Project

• The Corporation enters into a 10-year agreement with the companies. The amount will not change for the next 10 years from the date of the agreement.
• All the streets in the city will be converted to LED
• Smart meters should be installed in all street lights.
• Complaints should be resolved within 48 hours.
• Through this project, electricity consumption can be reduced by 40 percent compared to the current one

"The company that was awarded the contract did not follow the contract rules. That is why they were removed."

Medayil Vikraman,

Chairman of the Municipal Corporation's Standing Committee on Renovations