Hyderabad: For the first time in the country, LEDs are to be installed along an eight-lane expressway. Following a green signal from the state government, the 24-km stretch of the Outer Ring Road, from Gachibowli to Shamshabad, will be lit up with light emitting diodes in the coming months.
The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority is to take up the project with a Rs 30 crore loan assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Generally, sodium or mercury vapour lights are used along highways; but the HMDA has opted for LEDs in order to save power and because they do not need frequent replacements.
To light up the ORR, the HMDA needs each light outputting 120-125 watts of illumination. The LEDs can produce the light while consuming lesser power than other categories of bulbs.
Each pole will have two arms with lights on the sides to illuminate the eight carriageways. Power saving is one of the reasons for taking the LED route, but installing solar panels is not yet an option.
