Bengaluru Police Opposes BBMP’s Move To Dim Street Lights Post 11 PM, Cites Security Concerns

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is pitching in to dim the intensity of LED lights in the city post 11 PM every night for energy conservation using the technique of group controlling. It will ensure that all the LEDs are at full intensity till 11 PM and then illumination will be reduced as the vehicular movement decreases.

BBMP has also been planning to replace all the 4.85 lakh Sodium Vapour Lamps (SVL) into LED lights across the city under its Energy Saving Model. The move is not only expected to save energy but also money. BBMP Commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad had said that with the LED lights, which have same illumination as SVLs, BBMP’s electricity bill per month could be reduced drastically from 12 crore to 3.5 crore. It is the idea of dimming street lights in the night that has seen resistance.

According to the city police, dim street lights can lead to a rise in crimes, . In fact, the police has been asked to send the patrol teams on vigilance to those areas where there are no or under-performing street lights. If a crime happens in dimly lit areas, the security-cameras may not be capture the video in good quality.

City police have also requested the BBMP to fix street lights wherever required. A timeline of 30 months has been set for the Shapoorji Pallonji group for replacing the current lights with LED. The total number comes up to 4.85 lakh.

Bangalore Mirror quoted Ramanjaneya, Executive Engineer of BBMP’s Electrical Department as saying, “In the first phase, about 1 lakh sodium vapour lights are to be replaced within 6 months. The second phase shall begin soon after the pilot run of these LED lights. The maintenance of these LED lights is solely held by the private company. A toll-free number shall be released for the public to register their complaints.”