Thaindian News

New Delhi, July 21 (IANS) Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Rajkumar Chauhan conducted a surprise check of new street lights Monday night and found many were not working.
In run-up to the conduct of the Commonwealth Games due next year, these international standard lights, which have better illumination and a fancier look, are to be installed all over Delhi by January 2010.

During the inspection, the minister found that many lights were not working at Andrews Ganj flyover, South Extension, AIIMS and many other places, while there were no lights under many flyovers while the ones installed were not working.

The minister told the officials not to disconnect the old lights until the newly installed lights start working well, and warned the executive engineer of the electric division as well as the company concerned of strict action if all the lights were not installed within the stipulated time.

He asked the officials to immediately make arrangements for lights under the flyovers and to repair the footpaths on priority basis.

The minister also inspected the subways and many roads and asked the officials to carry out the necessary repairs with full speed, warning that any delay in the work would not be tolerated.

After the inspection, he said about 414 km roads of Delhi maintained by PWD would have these street lights of international standard and 35 per cent work of this Rs.200 crore project has been completed.

“These lights are being installed by Bajaj Electricals Limited, Space Age and Keselec Schreder Private Limited. These lights give high quality light and one can even switch off the light of his vehicle while driving on these roads,” according to an official statement here.

The minister said there should also be proper lights in the subways and advised the officials to allot the shops in the subways to an NGO or a company so that the department can earn revenue.