Soon, streetlights to be turned on, off and dimmed remotely

The move came after the successful testing of the technology on Anna Salai near the Metro Rail station at Teynampet. “Two companies installed their devices to monitor streetlights through smartphones in Teynampet. The system will be implemented across the city,” a Chennai Corporation official said.

The new technology would link the pillar boxes to the mobile phone application installed in officials’smartphones.

“Engineers of the concerned wards will be given rights to use the smartphone application so that they could switch on and off streetlights in their wards. Meanwhile, senior officials can monitor the functioning of lights. We will receive dashboard alerts in our application if any of the lights malfunction,” the official said.

The technology would link 7,077 pillar boxes that control 2.85 lakh streetlights, which includes 1.82 LED lights. “We have floated a tender worth Rs 46 crore to implement the project.”

It is learnt that the civic body has decided to source Rs 14 crore from Nirbhaya Fund and the remaining amount would be spent from the civic body’s capital fund.

Explaining the technology, the official added that the web-based sensors in the pillar boxes have been connected to the smartphones. When the engineer touches the button, sensors would trigger switches to on or off the lights.

The new application would also help the civic body to control dimming of lights according to available natural light, which would save on electricity bill.

“The project will provide a safer environment apart from saving money that we spent on the electricity bill. After the implementation of the dimming system, we can save Rs 2.45 crore per year,” he added.