Basudevpur: A street lighting project in Basudevpur town, valued at Rs 2.5 crore, is facing prolonged uncertainty. Street light poles, which were meant to brighten the roads, are lying unused by the roadside. Despite more than a year passing since the project’s approval, no electrical connections have been installed on the poles yet.
There is no visible presence of the implementing agency on site. The municipal administration has not provided any satisfactory explanation regarding the delay. Expressing concern over the situation, MLA Ashok Kumar Das raised the issue in the municipal council meeting, though no satisfactory response was received. It was reported that the state government has been informed about the issue. The MLA mentioned that the government has assured early completion of the work.
The project was approved by the government last year to improve lighting in Basudevpur. The work order was given to Bajaj Company through a tender process. Initially, several poles were erected on major roads of the town. Steps were taken to complete the project before the 2024 General Elections. The lighting was planned from Canal Chhak to the welcome gate near Sulapat, which could have added a vibrant touch to the town’s development.
However, even after more than a year, the work has made no significant progress. Some of the already installed poles have been stolen, while others have become overgrown with weeds. Meanwhile, due to the lack of proper lighting on the town’s main roads, darkness prevails at night, posing serious risks to travelers, especially with the movement of heavy vehicles to and from Dhamra Port.
Despite public grievances, the lighting project has stalled, and no lighting system has been operationalized. Municipal Executive Officer Sudhanshu Mohan stated that discussions are ongoing with higher officials, and the company responsible for erecting the poles has been urged to resume work. He assured our correspondent that the work will begin soon. Similarly, Municipal Chairperson Nivedita Behera stated that communication is ongoing with the State Urban Development Department, and work is expected to resume shortly.