KMC starts installation of solar street lights

Kathmandu / Dec 31: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has started setting up solar-powered street lights in the capital city.

The BK Traders with the contract to install the solar lights started work a few days ago. Traders Chairman, Roshan Srivastav, said the solar lights will be set up at Anamnagar in the first phase.

The KMC has set a target of installing solar street lights under the public-private partnership model in the major cities within the Kathmandu Valley in the next one and a half years.

As per the plan, 400 poles will be set up along the road stretch from Kalanki to Maitighar, Keshar Mahar intersection to Thamel, Chettrapati to Sohrakhute and Balaju to Naya Bus Park, KMC Spokesperson, Gyanendra Karki said.

The second phase will see the installation of solar lights along the road section leading from Kathmandu Plaza to Kamalpokhari and Gaushala. The lights will also be set from Gyaneshwor to Maitidevi, Battisputali, Dilli Bazaar and Putali Sadak. In this phase, a total of 300 solar street lights will be set up.

In the third phase, 385 poles will be set up from Purana Baneshwor to Ratna Rajya School to Sankhamul bridge, Tinkune, Koteshwor to Narephant and from Purana Baneshwor to Bhimsengola to Sinamangal.

The company will have to submit Rs 8,700 in annual royalty for each of the poles to the KMC. The solar street lights, batteries and adverts will all revert back to KMC’s ownership after a decade, according to the contact agreement.

The company will have to bear the expenses of necessary infrastructure and other costs for the installation. The KMC plans to install a total of 1,285 solar street lights. RSS