New Delhi: Streetlights in the city may soon become smart enough to report their own failures, alert maintenance teams in real time and even adjust brightness levels to save electricity.Public Works Department (PWD) has floated a Rs 473-crore tender to replace around 96,000 streetlights on its roads with smart LED fixtures connected to a centralised command centre. The project, covering more than 51,000 poles and including the installation of 5,000 additional poles, is estimated to save around Rs 25 crore annually due to expected lower electricity consumption.Currently, authorities often learn about faulty streetlights only after people, mostly residents, report them, leaving dark stretches unreported for days. Under the proposed system, each light will be individually monitored and connected to the command centre, enabling authorities to remotely switch it on or off, instantly identify non-functional lights and dark spots anywhere on the network.PWD minister Parvesh Verma said, “Under the smart street lighting project, Delhi govt will replace existing conventional HPSV (yellow-orange streetlights) and standard LED streetlights on PWD roads with advanced smart LED systems. This project is not just about upgrading streetlights, it is about transforming the way urban infrastructure is managed and monitored across the city.”He added, “The new smart lighting system will allow quicker response for repairs. This will help eliminate dark spots, improve visibility and significantly enhance safety and security, especially for women, senior citizens, pedestrians and motorists.” Govt will also install nearly 5,000 additional poles at identified dark spots.According to Verma, smart LEDs consume significantly less power and can be intelligently controlled and dimmed when required without compromising public safety. The project is expected to save nearly 40 million units of electricity annually and generate energy savings of approximately Rs 25 crore every year. The move is also expected to lower Delhi’s carbon footprint.The command centre will function as the brain of the system, continuously tracking assets, monitoring performance and generating data for maintenance planning.Besides ensuring public safety, the project is expected to enhance visibility for motorists and pedestrians, said officials. Uniform illumination and better light quality are also likely to reduce glare and light pollution while improving visual comfort.To ensure long-term accountability, the selected contractor will be responsible for operation and maintenance for five years after installation. The project includes a seven-year warranty on lighting fixtures, strict service-level agreements, and performance-linked incentives and penalties. The work is scheduled to be completed within 180 days of the award of the contract.“Delhi’s roads are vital public spaces that must be safe, well-lit and accessible for every citizen. Our govt is committed to creating a modern urban infrastructure that prioritises public safety, technological innovation and energy efficiency,” Verma said.