Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP)

Published: 17th Jan, 2019

The Central government is likely to miss the goal under the Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP) which is to replace 1.34 crore conventional street lights with energy efficient LED street lights by March 2019.
Energy Efficiency Services Limited has installed over 76.77 lakh LED street lights in 28 States or Union Territories till January 3, 2019.

Context

The Central government is likely to miss the goal under the Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP) which is to replace 1.34 crore conventional street lights with energy efficient LED street lights by March 2019.
Energy Efficiency Services Limited has installed over 76.77 lakh LED street lights in 28 States or Union Territories till January 3, 2019.

About

What is Street Lighting Programme?

Launched in 2015, EESL’s Street Light National Programme (SNLP) has been instrumental in replacing over 50 lakh street lights in over 500 cities in India, leading to 135 crore kWh of energy savings and cost saving of INR 742 crore every year.

What are its main components?

The programme has two main components: LED and Smart Lights

While LED usage addresses the need for affordable energy-efficient infrastructure, the future- readiness of India’s street lights also needed to be addressed, leading EESL to adopt “smart light” deployment.
These “smart lights” are connected through a web-based monitoring system that enables remote operations and additional operational savings.

Which is the executing agency and how the programme is implemented?

EESL, a joint venture of four National Public Sector Enterprises – NTPC Limited, PFC, REC and POWERGRID set up under Ministry of Power is the executing agency of the programme.
Under the programme, EESL replaces the conventional street lights with LEDs at its own costs, with no upfront investment by the municipalities, thereby making their adoption even more attractive.
Over a period, EESL is repaid through the consequent reduction in energy and maintenance cost of the municipality.
A seven-year contract with the local bodies guarantees a minimum energy saving of typically 50% and provides free replacements and maintenance of lights at no additional cost to the civic partners.

Has it been implemented across the country?

Though the programme includes whole country, SLNP has not been implemented so far in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Meghalaya and Union Territories of Daman & Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Lakshadweep.
It is implemented in all ULBs of 13 States and 1 Union Territory and partially in 11 other states and 3 UTs as per latest on records.

What is the significance of the programme?

India’s street lights form a crucial component of the nation’s investment on lighting and road safety. This ambitious project will make a tremendous difference, enabling peak demand reduction of 500 MW, annual energy savings of 190 crore kWh, and reduction in 15 lakh tons of CO2 once completing its targets of replacing 1.34 crore street lights across India.

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