The Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking is planning to introduce decorative and locally themed street-light designs in Mumbai, beginning with Worli, as part of an effort to give the city’s roads a more distinctive visual character.
The proposal was discussed at a BEST committee meeting chaired by Trushna Vishwasrao, where members were asked to suggest designs under three categories. The initiative draws inspiration from the BMC’s earlier use of decorative streetlights, including butterfly- and bird-shaped installations introduced in 2022.
For the first phase in Worli, BEST has planned 1,450 streetlights, with a total budget allocation of around Rs 2.50 crore.
“There is scope to reimagine the shape and design of street lights. Hence, we have asked members of the committee to come up with innovative designs, following which we will shortlist a company to carry out the task,” said Vishwasrao.
Designs Could Reflect Local Identity
The committee is also considering designs that represent the character and heritage of individual neighbourhoods rather than adopting a single citywide pattern.
Ramakant Gupta, a BEST committee member, said, “Being a global city, Mumbai needs to rethink the aesthetics and design of streetlights. Each area in the city and suburbs has its distinct character, which must reflect in the designs,”
He added, “For instance, Worli, which is home to the fisher folk, can have a design that depicts their life – a fish, for instance. Likewise, there could be lights in the shape of a conch in another part of the city.”
1,450 Poles Planned
To execute the project, BEST proposes procuring 250 zinc-plated, 9-metre step-drained street-light poles, 1,100 zinc-plated, 7-metre step-drained poles and 100 zinc-plated, 9-metre sleeveless poles.
According to BEST officials, the estimated cost is Rs 66.12 lakh for the 250 larger step-drained poles, Rs 1.58 crore for the 1,100 seven-metre poles and Rs 27.44 lakh for the remaining 100 poles.
The proposal states that approval from the BEST Committee will be obtained under Section 460K(c) of the Bombay Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, for the annual procurement of street-light poles.
BEST currently operates more than 30,000 streetlights across Mumbai’s island city. The undertaking has also recently replaced lamps in several locations following complaints regarding inadequate illumination.
The latest proposal shifts the focus beyond basic lighting towards the aesthetic and cultural design of public infrastructure. If implemented successfully, the approach could eventually be extended to other Mumbai neighbourhoods, with streetlights reflecting the identity and character of individual areas.
Source: Hindustan Times
