Kathmandu, December 31

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has started installing additional solar-powered street lights in the capital city.

BK Traders, which has been awarded the contract to install solar lights started work a few days ago. Traders chairman Roshan Srivastav said the solar lights would be installed at Anamnagar in the first phase.

The KMC has set a target of installing solar street lights under public-private partnership model in the Valley within the next one-and-a-half years.

As per the plan, 400 poles will be erected along the road stretch from Kalanki to Maitighar, Keshar Mahar intersection to Thamel, Chettrapati to Sohrakhute, and Balaju to Naya Bus Park, said KMC Spokesperson Gyanendra Karki.

The second-phase will see installation of solar lights along the Kathmandu Plaza-Kamalpokhari-Gaushala road section. The lights will also be installed on streets at Gyaneshwor, Maitidevi, Battisputali, Dilli Bazaar and Putali Sadak. In this phase, a total of 300 solar street lights will be installed.

In the third phase, 385 poles will be erected from Purano Baneshwor, Ratna Rajya School to Sankhamul bridge, Tinkune, Koteshwor to Narephant and from Purana Baneshwor to Bhimsengola to Sinamangal.

The company will have to submit Rs 8,700 in annual royalty for each of the poles to the KMC. The solar street lights will come under KMC’s ownership after a decade, according to the contact agreement.

The company will have to bear the expenses of necessary infrastructure and other costs for the installation. The KMC plans to install a total of 1,285 solar street lights.