Chandigarh, August 12, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab will install 3 lakh LED-based solar streetlights across villages in all 23 districts under a Rs 470-crore rural infrastructure initiative, New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister Aman Arora announced on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan after handing over work orders to seven selected agencies, Arora said the state government would bear 70 per cent of the project cost, while gram panchayats would contribute the remaining 30 per cent.
The revised funding pattern replaces the earlier 30:70 ratio, under which panchayats had to bear a substantially larger share. Arora said the change was aimed at reducing the financial burden on village bodies and ensuring that panchayats across Punjab could participate in the programme.
He said the initiative would improve safety, connectivity and post-sunset economic and social activity in rural areas while promoting clean energy. About 62.51 per cent of Punjab’s population, or nearly 173.20 lakh people, lives in rural areas, he said, adding that better lighting would particularly benefit women, children and the elderly.
The Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) will be the nodal agency for the project. Besides installing new solar streetlights, PEDA will oversee repair and renewal of existing systems. Based on feedback from panchayats, the maintenance support period has been increased from five to seven years.
The project also incorporates geo-tagging and unique identification of every streetlight, along with QR code- and IVRS-based grievance redressal and remote monitoring of functionality. Automated Annual Maintenance Contract alerts will be generated in case of a malfunction, with agencies required to undertake repairs within 72 hours.
Arora said priority for installation would be given to public spaces, including village phirnis, schools, Anganwadi centres, government health facilities, religious institutions and densely populated areas.
The scheme will be implemented on an opt-in basis, allowing gram panchayats to participate according to local requirements. Panchayats will also be able to decide the number of lights and choose between installations with or without poles to manage costs.
The selected agencies will have to complete 50 per cent of the assigned work within 120 days and the remaining work within 180 days of the work order.
Arora said the project had been designed around cost efficiency, quality and accountability, with geo-tagging, remote monitoring and strengthened grievance mechanisms intended to ensure that every installed streetlight remained traceable.
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