Special news. Chandigarh
Punjab Energy Minister Aman Arora on Sunday said that the state government has started a unique initiative named ‘Mukhyamantri Roshan Punjab Yojana’. Under this scheme, all the villages will be illuminated with solar powered LED street lights, and a budget of Rs 550 crore has been earmarked for this.
The minister described the project as one of the biggest initiatives for lighting in rural areas, under which more than 3 lakh solar LED lights will be installed across Punjab. Aman Arora said the state cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday approved the program to ensure reliable and low-cost lighting in villages.
He said that solar street lights are being given priority because they have zero electricity consumption, are more reliable and are suitable for rural areas. The project will be implemented by Punjab Energy Development Agency and will be completed in a phased manner between June to October 2026. According to the financial structure of the scheme, 70 percent of the expenditure will be borne by the state government and 30 percent by the gram panchayats.
The minister said that in the last 70 years, only about 1.14 lakh street lights were installed in the villages, many of which are now defunct. Under the new scheme, there will be a seven-year annual maintenance contract for all the lights, with a provision to replace them within three days if they fail. The system will include geo-tagging of every light, monitoring from a central command and control center and a helpline for registering complaints.
Aman Arora said that this initiative will especially increase the safety of women, promote inclusivity and improve the quality of rural life. He also informed that the state government is working on several solar projects to increase green energy production. Describing this scheme as a game-changer, the Minister said that it will not only improve security but will also strengthen economic activities in the villages of the state.
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