Home / Environment / Chandigarh's Dark Streets Mar Festive Glow
Chandigarh's Dark Streets Mar Festive Glow
1 Nov
Summary
- Many pedestrian paths and cycle tracks in Chandigarh remain inadequately lit.
- A safety audit found non-functional streetlights at 37 locations on Shanti Path.
- City plans a 10-year program to modernize 45,871 LED light points.
As Chandigarh anticipates Diwali, illuminating its streets for the festival, a significant portion of its daily-use public spaces remain poorly lit. This includes numerous pedestrian paths and cycle tracks, raising concerns about resident safety beyond the festive season. An audit of the city's cycle-track network identified non-functional streetlights at multiple locations, alongside issues like faded markings and encroaching vegetation.
These deficiencies pose particular risks to cyclists and pedestrians, especially in areas like Sector 34 where students navigate dimly lit routes. Effective streetlighting requires more than just fixture placement, emphasizing illumination levels, uniformity, and glare control. Chandigarh's unique urban design, with green belts and segregated networks, necessitates lighting solutions tailored to actual usage patterns.
In response, the Municipal Corporation has initiated a 10-year program to upgrade around 45,871 LED light points and modernize electrical infrastructure. This initiative aims to tackle issues of non-functional monitoring panels and aging fixtures. Sustained maintenance, regular audits, prompt repairs, and coordinated vegetation management are crucial alongside technological upgrades to ensure appropriate visibility and safety throughout the city.
