LEDs to replace bulbs across Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh state government has signed an agreement with the Centre to replace the conventional bulbs, tubelights and solar vapour lamps being used for streetlights with with Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps  in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and  10 other municipalities.

As per initial estimates, the AP government will be able to save at least Rs 7,000 crore if it can replace the power consuming lights being used in streetlights and the  domestic, industrial and commercial sector with LEDs. They consume almost 50 per cent less energy than than solar vapour lights.

A pilot project is scheduled to commence on Thursday to change the street lights under the  Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation limits and the municipal limits of Vizianagaram and Srikakulam in a phased manner. Of the total 96,000 streetlights under the  Visakhapatnam civic body , the LED project will replace almost 89,000 street lights. The remaining streetlights will not be replaced as they have already been fitted with LED or are high-mast and mini-mast lights with the height of the pole ranging from 12 metres to 24 metres at various locations. LEDs wont be affective from such a height, officials said.