Kochi Corpn. to issue notice to CSML over streetlight maintenance

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

The View From India Looking at World Affairs from the Indian perspective.

First Day First Show News and reviews from the world of cinema and streaming.

Today's Cache Your download of the top 5 technology stories of the day.

Data Point Decoding the headlines with facts, figures, and numbers

Health Matters Ramya Kannan writes to you on getting to good health, and staying there

The Hindu On Books Books of the week, reviews, excerpts, new titles and features.

Kochi, Kerala, 04/02/2026 : Not a single street light installed by CSML on Kathrikadavau bridge on Kaloor - Kadavanthra road is functioning. Photo : Thulasi Kakkat | Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT

The Kochi Corporation is set to issue a notice to Cochin Smart Mission Limited (CSML) over the alleged slackness in the operation and maintenance of LED streetlights installed by it.

CSML had initially installed nearly 3,300 smart, energy-efficient lights around three years ago, followed by another 40,000 under the Pan City LED Streetlight project last year, at a total cost of ₹35 crore. Two separate agencies were entrusted with the operation and maintenance of the lights for five years.

However, the LED lights have drawn flak from councillors across political parties over their alleged erratic functioning and poor upkeep. At the last council meeting, councillors demanded action against the agencies responsible for operation and maintenance.

“We are preparing a notice, based on legal opinion, to be issued to CSML, citing the problems and asking it to show cause why the agencies should not be replaced. We are caught in a dilemma since we cannot repair the lights ourselves and the only option is to replace them. We will also write to the State government on the issue and may even demand a probe into the dilution of tender conditions while awarding the project. The new CSML Chief Executive Officer, Arun S. Nair, has agreed to examine the matter. The project has not reduced our power bill either, which continues to hover around ₹1.17 crore a month,” said Mayor V.K. Minimol.

She expressed doubts about the quality of the control panels installed as part of the project, alleging that they were of inferior quality and prone to malfunctions during rain. The lights were supposed to be installed on separate poles independent of KSEB electric posts, but those tender conditions were later relaxed, she alleged.

CSML sources countered that at no point were more than 200 lights non-functional, whic