Why Outdoor Lighting is essential for Women’s Safety in India’s Growing Cities

Inadequate outdoor lighting means more dark spots, which effects routine activities — such as walking home after work, reaching out for public transport, or even enjoying an evening stroll— a matter of concern specially for women and children. In this context, good visibility in the nigh time serves a dual purpose: it deters criminals and empowers women with better sense of security to navigate the city with greater confidence.

Compared to traditional lighting, LED streetlights, pavement lights and other LED outdoor decorative solutions are not only energy efficient but have much better light properties making the city’s night life vibrant, which adds to the safety and security for inhabitants.

Several Indian cities have already seen the tangible benefits of enhanced outdoor lighting. A 2019 audit in Delhi, for example, identified over 1,500 poorly lit areas deemed unsafe for women, particularly after dark. In response, the city undertook an extensive LED installation drive—an initiative that was not just infrastructural but deeply symbolic, affirming women’s right to occupy public spaces without fear.

Similarly, citizen-led initiatives like Safetipin in Mumbai and Bengaluru have used mobile technology to map dark, unsafe areas, offering data-driven insights that city planners are increasingly using to prioritise lighting projects.

Smart Cites thrive for making a distinguish identity of City Infrastructures with all its utilities. Here, thoughtfully designed and strategically implemented landscape and façade lighting not only enhance the city's night-time aesthetics but also improve the overall sense of safety for residents and visitors. The well planned use of ambient LED lighting across buildings, streets, parks, and public spaces helps eliminate poorly lit areas, transforming them into welcoming and friendly spaces, for all regardless of gender & age. Beyond illumination, such lighting fosters vibrant public spaces that encourage social interaction, boosting tourism, and supporting a thriving nightlife economy — all of which contribute to increased foot traffic and natural surveillance, further reinforcing safety. These modern lighting solutions being energy-efficient as well as low on maintenance, resonates well with India's drive toward sustainable urban planning.

Lighting is not just infrastructure, it's a statement of what a city cares about. Well-lit streets foster community life, encourage local businesses and create spaces that are welcoming at all hours. This is especially crucial for India’s rapidly urbanizing Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, where planners have a unique opportunity to integrate safety into the system, with inclusive lighting principles, right from the planning phase itself.

As India envisions a future of smart cities, it is equally vital to build safe cities. While urban lighting may not address every aspect of safety, it remains one of the most effective, scalable, and immediate interventions we can implement. Each light that brightens a once-dark street helps pave the way for greater freedom, inclusion, and dignity for all citizens.