Sat Mar 22 19:41:45 UTC 2025: ## Kochi’s Dark Streets: MLA Demands Action on Dysfunctional Streetlights
**KOCHI, March 23, 2025** – Numerous streetlights remain dysfunctional across Kochi, creating safety hazards for motorists and pedestrians, despite a recent city-wide LED lamp replacement project. The problem is particularly acute at major junctions like Vyttila, where newly constructed flyovers lack adequate lighting underneath.
MLA Uma Thomas has filed a complaint with the District Collector, highlighting the prolonged darkness on the Palarivattom-Edappally highway corridor, a busy four-lane stretch where lights have been out for months. She cites a lack of response from the Kochi Corporation and other agencies, despite repeated concerns. The situation is exacerbated by the presence of brightly lit advertisement boards, many erected illegally atop metro pillars, which further obscure visibility.
Thomas warned of potential legal action and public protests if the issue isn’t resolved swiftly. Local residents’ associations and NGOs, including the Vyttila Vikasana Samithi, echo these concerns, citing the perilous conditions at Vyttila Junction, one of Kerala’s largest. They criticize the apparent apathy of civic agencies and the influence of advertising firms.
Kochi Mayor M. Anilkumar responded by promising the repair and restoration of all streetlights within the corporation’s limits within a month, with the Cochin Smart Mission Limited undertaking the work. However, the persistent darkness and the ongoing safety risks underscore the urgency of the situation.
First Piper 