Amid ongoing urban development efforts, numerous street lights on arterial roads and highways in Kochi, especially on the pivotal Palarivattom-Edappally stretch, remain dysfunctional or absent. This issue persists despite ambitious plans to upgrade 40,400 street lights to energy-efficient LED models. The problem is acutely felt at crucial junctions, including Vyttila, where the absence of lighting beneath expansive flyovers constructed by the Public Works Department (PWD) poses significant challenges for motorists and pedestrians navigating dimly lit or dark passages.
The irony is stark: while essential street lighting is lacking, advertisement boards adorned with bright lights flourish atop Kochi Metro pillars and lamp posts across the city. This mismatch of priorities further exacerbates safety concerns among the populace. Recently, Uma Thomas, an MLA, spotlighted this issue by submitting a formal complaint to District Collector N.S.K. Umesh, urging immediate repairs to street lights along both sides of the Palarivattom-Edappally highway. This busy four-lane corridor has been poorly lit for several months, despite repeated communications with the Kochi Corporation and related agencies. Such neglect has turned these areas into hazards for drivers, traders, and residents alike.
Further complicating matters are large, excessively bright advertisement boards, which obscure motorists’ views and contravene the Kerala State Policy on Outdoor Advertising. Ms. Thomas underscored the danger of these dark corridors, warning that the situation could become accident-prone. Expressing public frustration at institutional “apathy” and the “undue influence” wielded by advertising firms, she cautioned that continued inaction might prompt her to initiate a protest or seek judicial intervention.
In parallel, local NGOs are voicing their concerns. The Ernakulam District Residents Associations’ Apex Council (EDRAAC) and Vyttila Vikasana Samithi have been persistently raising issues with civic agencies, especially highlighting the risks at Vyttila Junction and its access roads — vital routes where lighting is critically inadequate. T.N. Pratapan of the Vyttila Vikasana Samithi recently critiqued the non-functional state of street and high-mast lights along the Palarivattom-Vyttila NH 66 bypass and the light-less stretches beneath the Vyttila flyover. This scenario underscores how neglect in public lighting infrastructure can threaten both safety and quality of life.
In response to these escalating concerns, Kochi’s Mayor, M. Anilkumar, assured the public that repairs and restorations would commence shortly, promising completion within a month. Cochin Smart Mission Limited is tasked with the broader initiative of replacing outdated lights with LED options, and detailed plans for this project are on the verge of finalization.
The ongoing inadequacy of street lighting in Kochi, juxtaposed with the brightness of advertising displays, highlights the need for urgent infrastructural reforms. Enhanced lighting solutions are vital to improving urban safety and quality of life, and the upcoming actions from local government and allied agencies will be crucial in addressing the community’s pressing needs.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/dysfunctional-street-lights-abound-in-kochi-despite-drive-to-install-led-lights/article69362431.ece
Category : Kochi
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Publish Date: 2025-03-23 01:11:00
