New Initiative by Madurai Corporation Private Advertisement Companies to Set Up Streetlights

Facing financial constraints, the Madurai Corporation has introduced a new scheme where private advertisement companies that install billboards on major roads will now also set up, maintain, and pay the electricity charges for the streetlights on those roads.

Insufficient Number of Streetlights

After the corporation’s boundaries were expanded to 142 sq. km in 2011, the total length of roads has reached 1,545 km. However, there are only around 60,000 streetlights in total. Apart from the major roads, residential areas and interior roads lack adequate lighting. Poor maintenance has resulted in complaints about dark streets leading to anti-social activities.

New Streetlight Installations

The corporation has assessed the need for streetlights across all 100 wards and is currently in the process of purchasing 4,500 new streetlights. Additionally, streetlights worth ₹3.52 crore have already been procured and are being installed in the following areas:

• From Fatima College to Paravai Vegetable Market
• From Guruvikaraan Road to Viraganur Junction
• Other newly expanded areas

Accountability Given to Advertisement Companies

In earlier plans, although advertisement companies installed streetlights, they did not take part in maintaining them. Due to the workload on the engineering department, proper monitoring was not done. Following this, Commissioner Chitra has assigned the Urban Planning Department the responsibility of monitoring streetlights.

Contracts and Approvals

Through the Urban Planning Department, contracts have been signed with three advertisement companies for the following areas:

• Anna Nagar
• K.K. Nagar Road
• From Fatima College to Palanganatham

These companies have been granted rights to place advertisements in these zones. As per the contract, they are also obligated to install and maintain new streetlights, and bear the electricity expenses. A No Objection Certificate (NOC) has been issued, and installation work is currently in progress.

---

This new initiative is seen as a significant step forward, helping the Corporation overcome financial difficulties while enhancing public safety through improved street lighting across the city.