Ranchi Municipal Corporation races against time to repair faulty street lights ahead of Durga Puja

Ranchi: With Durga Puja barely a week away, pandal organisers across Ranchi have flagged poor street lighting as a major concern for public safety and smooth crowd management. Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has begun an intensive repair drive, fixing 348 street lights out of the 500 reported as faulty. Officials said the effort is aimed at meeting the demands of organisers and ensuring illuminated stretches around key puja venues.According to RMC data, Ranchi has 1,748 street lights under its jurisdiction, out of which over 1,500 are currently functional. At least 166 locations have been marked by puja committees for urgent attention, with organisers additionally demanding 96 new lights in crowded pockets such as Dhurwa, Bada Talab, Indrapuri Ratu Road, and Tharpakana.“Crowds gather in huge numbers during the evenings. Proper lighting is not just about aesthetics but also about safety. In Dhurwa, we are asking not only for functional lights but also for better civic management to handle waste and traffic,” said Arjun Singh, a member of a local puja committee.While the corporation has assured expedited work, residents argue that repairs are often temporary. “Every year the same problem repeats. The lights are fixed during the festival and soon stop working. The corporation should think of permanent solutions rather than quick fixes,” said Ramesh Kumar, a resident of Bariatu.RMC officials, however, said that the current push is on a war footing. “We have already repaired more than 300 lights in the last two weeks, and the rest will be addressed before the main days of Durga Puja. Our teams are working late evenings to cover all identified spots,” said Sourabh Keshri, RMC assistant engineer.Officials added that new installations would be considered in high-footfall zones to prevent dark patches and ensure safe celebrations.