CM Rekha Gupta’s Major Initiative: 96,000 Street Lights in Delhi to be Converted into Smart LEDs

New Delhi, 20 May 2026 : Delhi’s roads are set for a major lighting overhaul, with the government approving an ambitious plan to replace nearly 96,000 street lights with advanced smart LED systems across the capital. The decision was taken on Wednesday during a hybrid meeting of the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) chaired by Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta. The project, estimated to cost around ₹473.24 crore, will be implemented in phases on roads maintained by the Public Works Department (PWD). The government has set a target to complete the transformation before Diwali so that Delhi’s major roads are fully illuminated with the new smart lighting system.

PWD Minister Shri Parvesh Sahib Singh and senior officials from concerned departments also attended the meeting. The project is part of the announcement made by the Chief Minister in the 2026-27 Budget, where she had proposed replacing conventional street lighting with energy-efficient smart LED systems. At present, PWD roads have nearly 45,000 old High Pressure Sodium Vapour (HPSV) lights and around 51,000 HPSV LED lights. Altogether, the network includes close to 96,000 lights and 51,160 poles.

Explaining the need for the project, the Chief Minister said the existing system had several shortcomings. Since there was no real-time monitoring mechanism, faulty street lights were often identified only after complaints were received. In many areas, dark spots remained unattended for long periods, affecting road visibility and public safety, particularly women’s safety. The current system also suffered from uneven lighting quality, high power consumption and light pollution due to the use of different types of fixtures. She said the new smart LED system would address these issues comprehensively. Under the project, all HPSV lights and older LED fixtures will be replaced with smart LEDs. Provision has also been made for installing 5,000 additional poles to cover future requirements and currently unlit stretches.

One of the key features of the project will be a centralised Command and Control Centre (CCC), which will enable real-time monitoring of every street light. Faults will be detected instantly and lights can also be remotely operated. The system will additionally allow lighting intensity to be increased or reduced by up to 90 per cent depending on requirement, improving both energy efficiency and operational management. CM Rekha Gupta said the project would also deliver substantial long-term financial savings. Once the smart LED system is fully operational, the government expects annual electricity savings of nearly ₹25 crore. Over a five-year period, the reduction in power expenditure is expected to be significant compared to the current arrangement.

The Chief Minister said the initiative would help make Delhi’s roads free of dark spots, strengthen women’s safety, reduce road accidents and provide the capital with a modern, secure and energy-efficient lighting system. Reiterating the government’s commitment to complete the project before Diwali, she said the aim was to ensure the entire city shines brightly during the festive season. During the meeting, PWD Minister Shri Parvesh Sahib Singh suggested that the project should be given a special name, considering its importance for the Delhi government. The Chief Minister agreed with the proposal.