Punjab to install 300,000 solar streetlights in rural villages

The Punjab government has announced a ₹470 crore initiative to install 300,000 LED-based solar streetlights across villages in all 23 districts of the state. To reduce the financial pressure on local village bodies, the state government will now cover 70% of the project costs, with gram panchayats contributing the remaining 30%. This is a significant shift from the previous funding model, which required panchayats to pay 70% of the costs.

New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister Aman Arora stated that the project aims to enhance safety, connectivity, and sustainability for the approximately 17.32 million people living in rural Punjab. The lights will be installed in public areas such as schools, health facilities, religious institutions, and densely populated stretches.

The Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) will act as the nodal agency, overseeing installations and the repair of existing systems. Following feedback from local bodies, the maintenance support period has been extended from five to seven years. The program will utilize a digital tracking system featuring geo-tagging, unique identification for each light, QR codes, and an IVRS-based complaint mechanism to ensure accountability and remote monitoring of functionality.