News Source:

Times of India

The Energy Efficiency Service Limited (EESL) has installed more than 600,000 LED streetlights across several cities in India under the energy service company (Esco) model, said Saurabh Kumar, managing director of Energy Efficiency Service Limited, reported by Times of India.

As the full capital investment is supported by EESL there is no upfront cost for municipal corporations.

The EESL together with Union power ministry requested all municipal corporations, including Chennai, to participate in the program. The state governments are allowed to decide whether they would like to join the project or not.

Chennai is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The greater Chennai Corporation approved the project of installing 30,000 LED streetlights across the city for INR 1.45 billion (US$ 21.26 million). However, it would have cost a mere INR 370 million (US $5.4 million) if EESL were to switch conventional streetlights to LED ones, said Saurabh Kumar.

Still, EESL is unable to comment on the expense proposed by Chennai as details of the bid is not disclosed.