Kochi Corporation commissions digital streetlight survey to plug asset register gaps

The Kochi Corporation has commissioned a digital survey of streetlights after a recent Comptroller and Auditor General report flagged the absence of a division‑wise database and their exclusion from the civic body’s asset register.Following Mayor V.K. Minimol’s prior approval, the Corporation invited expressions of interest and received three quotations. Pamidi Projects Private Limited, which quoted the lowest bid, has been awarded the work. The agency, which manages streetlights for the Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode Corporations, is expected to launch the survey by the first week of September after consultations with the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), which powers the lights.“Cochin Smart Mission Limited claims [CSML] to have installed 40,000 LED lights under the Pan City LED StreetLight Project. But the Corporation has no proof of this. The proposed survey will help us ascertain the number of lights installed by CSML, how many more are required, and the scope for additional installations, as fresh demands continue to be raised involving lakhs. The survey will also enable us to include streetlight data in our asset register,” Ms. Minimol said.“We will collate KSEB section‑wise data of streetlights, taking transformers as the base switching point. We have requested a meeting with the KSEB authorities to collect transformer data. Information such as the number of lights powered by each transformer, the number of electric posts with streetlights, posts without lights but with connections for future installations, wattage of lights, and their condition will be gathered under the survey,” said Venkat Reddy, director of the firm.KSEB will be provided with a section‑wise schedule of the survey, as transformers need to be switched on to assess the condition of streetlights and ensure the services of linemen.V.A. Sreejith, LDF parliamentary party leader in the Corporation council, alleged that the survey was merely a ploy to open avenues for corruption. “The decision has also come far too late. Despite prior approval, the survey is yet to begin and is expected to take three months. This means it will take nearly a year before new lights can be installed, leaving councillors under severe pressure to meet the rising demand for streetlights in their respective areas,” he said.CSML initially installed around 3,300 smart, energy‑efficient lights about three years ago, followed by another 40,000 under the Pan City LED Street Light Project last year, at a total cost of over ₹35 crore. Two separate agencies were entrusted with their operation and maintenance for five years. However, the LED lights have drawn criticism from councillors across political parties over their alleged erratic functioning and poor upkeep. Conflicting reports also persist about the number of LED lights installed outside the CSML project. While the Corporation claims the figure is around 6,000, maintenance agencies engaged under CSML put it closer to 20,000. Published - August 27, 2026 08:44 pm IST