Andhra Pradesh to get 10.5 lakh smart LED street lights across all 123 urban bodies

Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a public sector body under the Ministry of Power, is set to launch a Smart LED Street Lighting Project in Andhra Pradesh. The initiative, implemented in partnership with the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Department, aims to accelerate energy efficiency and promote sustainable urban development across the State.

According to an official release, the project will introduce an Individual Light Monitoring (ILM) network integrated with a centralised control and monitoring system across all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Andhra Pradesh. This will replace nearly 10.50 lakh conventional street lights with smart LED lights that can be monitored and managed remotely.

The project will be executed through a tripartite agreement involving EESL, the Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration (CDMA), and the MA&UD Department. The initial phase will cover 7.50 lakh street lights, while an additional three lakh lights will be included under an extended scope, bringing the total to over 10 lakh.

Preparations for the launch were reviewed at a virtual meeting on August 8 by S. Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary of MA&UD. The meeting was attended by P. Sampath Kumar, Commissioner of MA&UD and CDMA; S. Nagalakshmi, Managing Director of A.P. Genco and A.P.-SEEDCO; and Akhilesh Kumar Dixit, CEO of EESL. Discussions focused on the implementation roadmap, coordination between agencies, and the technical architecture of the centralised monitoring platform.

The initiative is described as the next generation of the Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP), a flagship scheme under which EESL has already installed millions of LED street lights across India. The new system adds intelligent lighting controls, real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and digital asset management.

Key benefits include improved energy efficiency, reduced operational costs for municipalities, better public lighting quality, and lower carbon emissions. The centralised control system will allow authorities to detect faults instantly, schedule lighting based on sunrise and sunset times, and dim lights during low-traffic hours, leading to further energy savings.

For residents, the project promises safer streets and better visibility at night. For urban local bodies, it offers a modern, data-driven approach to managing public infrastructure. The project also aligns with the State's broader goals of sustainable urban development and digital governance.

EESL has been a pioneer in promoting energy efficiency in India. Under the SLNP, it has implemented similar projects in multiple States, replacing over 1.3 crore conventional street lights with LEDs. The Andhra Pradesh project stands out for its scale and the integration of ILM technology, which provides granular data on each light's performance.

The State government has emphasised its commitment to completing the project in a time-bound manner. Officials said the initiative will not only modernise street lighting but also serve as a model for other States looking to adopt smart infrastructure solutions.

Once fully operational, the project is expected to significantly reduce Andhra Pradesh's energy consumption for street lighting, easing the burden on the State's power grid and contributing to national climate targets. The smart monitoring system will also generate valuable data that can be used for future urban planning and maintenance strategies.