Chennai authorities have installed 40 LED streetlights along a key 1.2-kilometre section of the Chennai–Chittoor–Bengaluru Highway (SH 107) near Walajah in Ranipet district, addressing longstanding safety concerns on a heavily trafficked industrial corridor. The upgrade is part of a broader effort to modernise arterial roads and enhance urban connectivity while reducing accident risks on stretches that previously lacked adequate illumination.
The corridor serves as a major transport link for goods and passenger vehicles, connecting towns such as Tiruttani, Sholinghur, Walajah, Ranipet, Katpadi, Vellore, and extending to Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh. Daily vehicle volumes exceed 17,000 passenger car units, including heavy trucks serving local industrial clusters. Urban planners and traffic analysts note that poorly lit stretches on high-traffic highways are associated with higher accident rates, particularly during night hours and monsoon seasons.
The streetlight installation coincides with recent widening and infrastructure enhancements along the 8.2-kilometre stretch. Originally a 15-foot-wide rural road constructed for farm transport, the highway segment has been expanded to 18.6 metres, with medians, stormwater drains, and culverts integrated into the design. A total of eight culverts are under construction, reflecting a growing focus on climate-resilient infrastructure capable of handling seasonal runoff and reducing flood risk along the highway. Each LED unit operates at 250 volts and has been placed at 25-metre intervals to ensure uniform coverage. The project, funded under the district’s Road Safety Fund, incurred an investment of approximately ₹14 lakh. While local municipal bodies are responsible for ongoing maintenance under standard protocols, the State Highways department undertook the installation directly to mitigate a high frequency of accidents, an average of three to five weekly on the unlit section.
Infrastructure experts point out that strategic lighting on high-volume corridors not only improves safety but can also enhance economic efficiency by reducing accident-related delays, particularly for logistics and industrial supply chains. Urban transport planners emphasise that the integration of energy-efficient LED technology aligns with sustainable city objectives by reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.The intervention highlights the importance of a people-first approach to transport infrastructure, where road safety measures and modernisation are prioritised alongside mobility improvements. As the highway continues to expand and upgrade, authorities are expected to coordinate maintenance responsibilities with local civic bodies to sustain the benefits of safer, climate-resilient urban mobility.
