KARACHI: In response to rising electricity tariffs, the Karachi administration has decided to install solar-powered street lights on major thoroughfares.
The mayor of Karachi announced that the Rs1 billion project will be completed with assistance from the World Bank. In addition to Shahrah-e-Faisal, Shahrah-e-Iran, and Marine Drive in Clifton will also be solarised.
Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that following the pilot project, 103 additional roads in the city will be converted to solar power. The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s head office will also undergo solarisation.
“In the first phase, we will initiate the project on Sharea Faisal, Marine Drive, and Shahrah-i-Iran, also known as Shahrah-i-Firdousi, at a cost of Rs1 billion,” the mayor said in a statement issued by the KMC. “This project is part of the CLICK programme, and tenders for these three roads have already been issued. We aim to convert the city’s street-light system to solar power.”
The selected parties for these roads will be responsible for maintaining and keeping the street lights operational for five years. The mayor believes that solar-powered street lights will reduce KMC’s electricity bills and eliminate load shedding in the system.
