Miscellaneous
KMC deal with private firm to install 1,285 solar street lights
The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has signed an agreement with BK Traders and Suppliers to complete the installation of solar-powered street lamps at various streets in the Capital.Anup Ojha
The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has signed an agreement with BK Traders and Suppliers to complete the installation of solar-powered street lamps at various streets in the Capital.
According to the deal reached on Wednesday, BK Traders and Suppliers will invest Rs 227 million to install 1,285 street lamps.
“This is a public-private partnership venture in which BK Traders and Suppliers will generate money by selling advertisement space on each lamp post,” Rudra Singh Tamang, the KMC chief and executive officer, said. “It is a 10-year deal and. The KMC will take over the project after the duration is over.”
Deepak Adhikari, the KMC procurement unit chief, said BK Traders and Suppliers will also be responsible for the maintenance of lamps throughout the agreement period. “The maintenance duty includes cleaning the solar panels every month as well as fixing and replacing of lights and other lamp components,” he added.
BK Traders and Suppliers has one year to complete the project, according to the agreement. The solar street lamp project was introduced by the KMC in 2014 under its Kathmandu Ujyalo Programme, with the support from the Asian Development Bank. The KMC has already installed solar-powered street lamps in various parts of the Capital till date.