The Punjab government will install three lakh LED-based solar streetlights across villages in the state at a cost of Rs 470 crore, New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister Aman Arora said on Wednesday.
The project is aimed at providing gram panchayats with clean-energy lighting while improving safety, connectivity and infrastructure in rural areas.
Under the funding arrangement, the state government will bear 70 per cent of the project cost, while gram panchayats will contribute the remaining 30 per cent.
Arora said the new funding formula marks a significant change from the earlier arrangement, under which panchayats were required to bear 70 per cent of the cost and the government contributed 30 per cent.
The ratio was revised after taking into account the limited financial resources available to village bodies and to ensure that panchayats across the state have an equal opportunity to participate in the programme, he said.
The minister said the initiative was part of the government's efforts to strengthen rural infrastructure, improve public safety and promote the use of renewable energy.
Around 62.51 per cent of Punjab's population, or approximately 173.20 lakh people, lives in rural areas, making improved street lighting an important component of infrastructure development, he said.
Arora pointed out that inadequate lighting on village streets increases the risk of accidents and crime and can restrict economic and social activity after sunset.
The installation of solar streetlights is also expected to help villages located near major economic centres extend working hours and support greater commercial activity, potentially contributing to the rural economy.
The Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) will act as the nodal agency for implementation of the project.
Apart from installing the three lakh new solar streetlights, PEDA will oversee comprehensive repair and renewal of existing solar lighting systems across villages.
The government has also extended the maintenance support period for the systems from five years to seven years following feedback received from gram panchayats.
Arora said the longer maintenance period was intended to ensure that the solar streetlights remain functional over the long term and that panchayats do not face an immediate financial burden for their upkeep.
The project combines rural infrastructure development with Punjab's push towards renewable energy by reducing dependence on conventional electricity for street lighting.
Once implemented, the programme is expected to significantly expand solar-powered public lighting across Punjab's villages while reducing the financial contribution required from individual gram panchayats.