GMC Commissioner Cracks Down on Streetlight Outages, Demands Repairs Within 48 Hours

Vijayawada: In a bid to improve city safety and resident convenience, Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC) commissioner Keerthi Chekuri has directed officials to address all streetlight malfunctions within a strict 48-hour timeframe.

Chekuri made the announcement during a review meeting with the engineering department on Monday. The meeting focused on crucial city services like street lighting, drinking water supply, and drainage maintenance.

Concerned about public safety and nighttime visibility, the commissioner emphasised the need for fully functional streetlights across all wards. She demanded an action plan to ensure repairs for defunct lights are completed within 48 hours. To expedite the process, officials were instructed to assess ground conditions and submit material estimates for repairs.

Chekuri didn't stop there. She also addressed concerns about drinking water quality. Officials were ordered to clean reservoirs on schedule and respond swiftly to complaints regarding contaminated water supplies.

Additionally, amenity secretaries were tasked with collecting water samples from households for further analysis. The meeting also addressed drainage concerns. Anticipating monsoon rains, Chekuri directed officials to prioritise desilting outfall drains to prevent overflows.

Transparency was another key focus – officials were instructed to upload before-and-after pictures of desilting projects.

Furthermore, Chekuri emphasised the need to remove illegal structures built on drainage channels. Collaboration with town planning officials was encouraged to facilitate demolitions.

Finally, to ensure efficient complaint resolution, the commissioner mandated daily reports on all issues reported to the GMC complaint cell.