HYDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has initiated a city-wide effort to geo-tag every streetlight pole using QR codes, aiming to determine the exact number of poles and improve streetlight maintenance.
GHMC officials stated that Hyderabad has 9,103 kilometers of roads and an estimated 5.48 lakh streetlights, based on which maintenance tenders have been awarded. However, in the past four months, nearly half the streetlights across the city have remained non-functional, leading to poorly lit areas and resulting in road accidents.
Frequent complaints have been received by GHMC, citing accidents in dark zones caused by either non-functioning lights or the absence of lights altogether. The current maintenance agency claims that 98% of the lights are operational, prompting GHMC Commissioner K. Ilambarithi to question the accuracy of the figures. When he sought clarity on the actual number of poles, officials estimated around 5.5 lakh, which led to doubts and the launch of a verification exercise.
A secret audit is now reportedly underway to validate these claims. Preliminary findings show that maintenance is inadequate and figures may have been manipulated by including lights mounted on electric and telephone department poles. In response, GHMC is planning to introduce a QR code-based system to geo-tag streetlight poles for their accurate identification and monitoring.
According to the plan, no maintenance bills will be cleared until the full pole count is verified. In 2018, GHMC handed over the installation and maintenance of 5.48 lakh streetlights to Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL). While the agency performed well initially, over the past two years, it has been accused of poor maintenance.
Due to persistent complaints from citizens and public representatives, GHMC reportedly withheld payments for some time but later resumed bill settlements. So far, the corporation has paid EESL over ₹450 crore in seven years.
Following severe complaints five months ago, GHMC assigned Bajaj Electronics the maintenance of 18,000 streetlights. The remaining lights continue under EESL’s maintenance.
To ensure accurate supervision and better upkeep, GHMC plans to assign new contracts only after the geo-tagging exercise is complete. Each pole will have a QR code that links to its maintenance record.
Through this digital system, the head office will be able to monitor wire damage, malfunctioning lights, and maintenance work history for each pole. Upon entering a pole number, officials will know how long a light functioned and what repairs were conducted. Groundwork for this initiative is in progress.
Once geo-tagging is fully implemented, tenders will be called for comprehensive maintenance. Officials believe this will help ensure 100% functionality of Hyderabad’s streetlights.
