Thursday, December 18, 2014: Vishakapatnam has got itself covered with almost 96,000 new Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs, perhaps the highest installed in the world within a short span of time. The place is likely to be dedicated to the nation soon by the PM Narendra Modi. These LED lights save energy cost of up to 50 per cent.
The Energy Saving Corporation of India (ESCI) which was the key contributor in installation of these lights wrote to the Prime Minister to inaugurate the facility. Since PM Modi is high on promoting energy saving in the nation, particularly by usage of LEDs, considering that the Andhra Pradesh government is optimist about him for accepting the invitation.
Urban Development Minister P Narayana said believes that even if he won’t be able to make it there personally, then he might even choose go for video conference from Delhi. He noted that the idea is to appreciate the effort in restoring Vizag lighting system that had suffered hugely when Hudhud hit the coastal city.
He further said that this was the biggest replacement that took place anywhere in the world and the size of it can be understood from the fact that only 3,000 to 4,000 bulbs were being replaced across the country every day. But the Central Government agreed to get these divert to Vizag considering the vastness of the damage after the AP Government argued its case.
Narayana told that the bulbs were installed by the ESCI in association with its contract companies, which has also agreed upon maintaining them for next seven years. He said, “We have not spent a single penny from the government coffers for this. Electricity bills are likely to be reduced by 50 per cent, which itself is a saving for the government.”
