(GIST OF SCIENCE REPORTER) Street Lights: Smart Solutions for Energy-Efficient Lighting in India

(October-2023)

Street lights rarely catch our attention — unless they are flickering or not working. We seldom turn our gaze towards the street lights lighting our path ahead.
But if you have ever looked at the street lights in the villages, towns and cities across the length and breadth of the country you cannot help wondering at the mindboggling variety of street light designs as you move from region to region.

One often finds traditional lantern-style designs in rural areas, while in urban areas, the designs are modern and sleek. The street lights in rural areas of India are often made of metal or bamboo and are designed to look like lanterns.
One of the most striking examples of street light designs in India is in the city of Jaipur. Known as the ‘Pink City’, Jaipur is famous for its beautifully designed buildings, with intricately and ornately designed street lights complementing the architecture.
Another city that stands out for its street light designs is Bengaluru. The street lights here are modern and sleek, and many of them use LED technology.
The city has also installed solar-powered street lights in some areas, which not only saves electricity but also helps to reduce carbon emissions.
Often, while modernising the infrastructure of a city or town, street light designs play a crucial part. They are not only essential for public safety but also for beautifying the surroundings. Without us realising, there is a lot of science and technology that goes into street lights.