In a significant development, the 645-kilometre-long National Highway-66 in Kerala is set to be illuminated by a total of 64,500 LED lights, transforming the highway into a well-lit corridor even at night. These LED bulbs are designed to provide a brightness level of 40 lux, enhancing visibility and safety for commuters.
To achieve this ambitious lighting project, the LED poles will be strategically positioned at intervals of 38 to 42 meters along the highway. Each pole will support two LED bulbs, with power ranging from 180 to 250 watts. The lighting setup includes an upper bulb to illuminate the six-lane highway and a lower bulb to light up the service roads, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
A trial phase has already commenced on the Thalappady–Chengala stretch of the highway, spanning 39 kilometers, where 3,200 LED bulbs have been activated as part of the initial implementation. This segment serves as a pilot project, demonstrating the effectiveness and efficiency of the LED lighting system in real-world conditions.
The lighting infrastructure will involve the installation of two poles within every 38–42 meters, resulting in four LED bulbs lighting up that specific section. This equates to a minimum of 100 lights per kilometer along the highway, excluding additional lighting planned for underpasses and flyovers, further enhancing safety and visibility for motorists.
Each lighting pole is set to be positioned 10 meters away from the road, with an average height of 10 meters. The estimated power consumption per pole stands at 30 kilowatts, requiring a total power capacity of 16.70 megawatts to illuminate the entire stretch of the highway in Kerala effectively. The operational costs, including electricity charges, for the lighting system will be handled by the respective construction agencies responsible for each highway segment over a 15-year period.
The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) will facilitate the power supply for the LED lighting system, with the connection registered under the National Highways Authority. The electricity tariff for the streetlights is based on an approximate rate of ₹5 per unit, with an estimated power consumption of 12 to 15 kilowatts per kilometer. The system is equipped with 70 feeder pillars containing three-phase energy meters to monitor electricity usage, and a timer-based control system ensures that the lights are operational from 6 pm to 6 am daily.
Key Takeaways:
– NH-66 in Kerala will be illuminated by 64,500 LED streetlights, enhancing safety and visibility for commuters.
– The LED lighting system includes two bulbs per pole, strategically positioned along the highway for optimal coverage.
– A trial of 3,200 LED bulbs is already underway on the Thalappady–Chengala stretch as part of the initial implementation.
– The lighting infrastructure will consume an estimated 16.70 megawatts of power, with operational costs managed by construction agencies over a 15-year period.
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