‘Rapid Electrical Action Force’ deployed for immediate street light repair in Bhubaneswar

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has operationalised a Rapid Electrical Action Force (REAF) to ensure immediate repair of roadside electric lights across the city.

In a post on X, the civic body stated that the dedicated force has been introduced to reduce response time to street light complaints and improve night-time safety in residential and traffic-prone areas within the BMC jurisdiction.

Under the new arrangement, three specially equipped vehicles fitted with hydraulic ladders have been deployed. Each vehicle is staffed with three trained personnel, including a head constable, a licensed electrician, and a driver, enabling on-site repairs without procedural delays.

Structured Teams And Daily Coverage

As per the arrangement, a team leader has been appointed to coordinate the movement and functioning of all REAF vehicles. BMC said the force will proactively undertake street light repair work in a minimum of two municipal wards every day, in addition to responding immediately to complaint-based calls from any part of the city.

BMC has also made provisions to deploy additional workers if the scale or complexity of a fault demands more manpower. The objective is to ensure that faults are resolved at the earliest without postponement due to logistical or staffing constraints.

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Scale Of Street Light Infrastructure

According to data shared by The Times of India, the BMC area currently has more than 78,500 street lights and around 180 high-mast light installations. During the 2024–25 financial year, the corporation installed approximately 2,400 new electric poles and over 5,000 additional street lights to expand coverage in newly developed and peripheral areas.

In addition, 34 high-mast lights have been set up at major road junctions to improve visibility and traffic safety.