Kathmandu, September 4

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has allocated Rs 60 million for the installation of solar street lights in the core city areas under its ‘Kathmandu Ujjyalo Karyakram’ project.

Rudra Singh Tamang, chief executive of the KMC, said the government and local community have contributed funds for the project. The KMC is collaborating with the Nepal Electricity Authority and Alternative Energy Promotion Centre for the installation of solar-powered street lights.

The trio will jointly work to implement cluster-based solar energy production in the metropolis. Uttar Kumar Regmi, chief of Physical Development and Construction Department at KMC, said the lights would be installed in core city areas, where installation of street light sets, including poles, batteries, and solar panels is difficult due to narrow roads.

KMC has decided to install solar panels on the roofs, windows, verandas, and walls of concrete multi-storey buildings that are easily exposed to sun light. The solar panels will also be installed on existing street light poles for cost effectiveness.

“The solar panels installed on roofs will be simple to maintain and cost effective. If this is done, KMC will not have to allocate ground space for street light installation,” said Regmi.

Last year, KMC had installed about 600 solar lights at Durbar Marg, Basantapur, Singha Durbar, Keshar Mahal, Thapathali, and areas around Tribhuvan International Airport ahead of the 18th SAARC Summit as part of city beautification project.

It had received Rs 380 million for the purpose from the Asian Development Bank.