The Municipal Corporation (MC) of Chandigarh has issued a request for proposal (RFP) to engage a private partner to overhaul the city's public street lighting system, restore centralised monitoring and deliver professional operation and maintenance for a 10‑year concession, officials said.
Scope and objectives of the modernisation
According to the RFP, the MC seeks a single accountable firm to take over the entire public street lighting network for a defined period. The selected bidder will be responsible for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of new smart LED luminaires and central control and monitoring system (CCMS) feeder panels across all light points.
The project aims to replace existing LED units with current‑generation luminaires, restore centralised smart monitoring and control, and provide professional operation and maintenance. The new system is to be fully integrated with the MC’s Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), officials said.
"A CCMS with clock‑based operation ensures lights are on only during required hours," the RFP notes.
Operational requirements and citizen services
The RFP requires the winning bidder to deploy individual light controllers and timer‑based operation, form ward‑wise dedicated maintenance teams, and set up 24x7 CCMS monitoring and a citizen complaint management system. The firm will also be expected to strengthen physical infrastructure, including poles, overhead and underground cables, earthing and junction boxes.
- Integration with ICCC to enable central monitoring and remote control.
- Timer/clock‑based operation to limit hours of illumination and reduce electricity usage.
- Ward‑wise maintenance teams and continuous monitoring for faster response to complaints.
- Responsibility for O&M, repairs and infrastructure upgrades during the concession period.
Background and existing infrastructure
Chandigarh's street lighting was upgraded in 2018–19 in a partnership with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), which installed 45,871 LED light points and 681 CCMS panels under a multi‑year operation and maintenance (O&M) contract. With the expiry of EESL's O&M agreement, the Municipal Corporation has been independently managing the infrastructure.
The RFP notes that existing luminaires "are no" — indicating a need to replace older or underperforming units — and places responsibility on the selected firm to restore central control and upgrade to current‑generation equipment.
| Item | Existing/Required |
|---|---|
| LED light points installed (2018–19) | 45,871 |
| CCMS panels installed (2018–19) | 681 |
| Concession period required | 10 years |
Energy, emissions and financial notes
The MC expects the upgraded system to reduce electricity consumption and significantly lower CO2 emissions through the deployment of lower‑wattage, higher‑efficiency luminaires and smarter control. The RFP specifies that the project's cost will be determined through competitive bidding; no fixed project cost has been announced.
Under the terms, the successful bidder will also be required to strengthen associated electrical infrastructure and carry out ongoing maintenance, including fault rectification and replacement of components during the concession period.
Municipal officials have previously emphasised that centralised control via a CCMS — when fully integrated with the ICCC — can provide operational benefits such as remote dimming, scheduling and rapid detection of outages, which could improve public safety while reducing energy use.
The RFP marks the MC's move to re‑establish a comprehensive central monitoring regime and to seek a long‑term private partner to deliver both the technical upgrade and day‑to‑day upkeep of Chandigarh's public lighting network.
