In a significant move to enhance public infrastructure and citizen safety, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched a dedicated 'Rapid Electrical Action Force' (REAF). This specialized team is tasked with promptly addressing electricity and street lighting issues across the city's municipal area.
A Swift Response to Civic Complaints
The initiative was officially flagged off by Mayor Sulochana Das on Wednesday. The core of the REAF currently consists of three vehicles equipped with hydraulic ladders, each manned by a skilled crew. According to an official BMC statement, each vehicle is staffed with three personnel: a supervisor, an electrician, and a driver. A team leader has been appointed to oversee the entire operation, with provisions for sending additional staff to sites if the situation demands.
Daily Operations and Scale of Work
The primary mandate of this force is to ensure a rapid response to public complaints. If a malfunctioning street light is reported in any part of the BMC area, the REAF team will quickly reach the location to carry out repairs. Officials have set a target for the teams to repair street lights in at least two wards every day. Beyond scheduled repairs, they will provide immediate responses to any urgent complaints.
The scale of the task is considerable. The BMC area currently has over 78,500 street lights and 180 high-mast light posts. In the 2024-25 period alone, the civic body has already installed 2,400 new poles and more than 5,000 new lights. Furthermore, 34 high-mast lights have been set up at various key intersections to improve visibility.
Expansion and Holistic Civic Management
BMC officials have indicated that another vehicle will be added to the REAF fleet soon, enhancing its reach and capacity. BMC Commissioner Chanchal Rana emphasized that the corporation is giving equal importance to various aspects of civic upkeep, including road cleaning, bush cutting, and electrical lighting, to ensure overall urban livability.
This proactive step by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation aims to reduce downtime for street lighting, thereby improving road safety and security for residents during night hours. The deployment of a dedicated force signifies a shift towards more responsive and efficient urban utility management in the Odisha capital.
