The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) is set to replace 52,000 aging 20-watt street lights across the city in response to escalating complaints about inadequate street lighting. This decision comes after an alarming rise in faults attributed to several LED lights that are over a decade old, compounded by the city’s coastal climate and infrastructure challenges. Repair efforts have proven resource-intensive, with a spare parts demand currently at 3%, double the industry standard. GVMC commissioner Dr. P Sampath Kumar revealed that nearly 72,000 of the city’s 1.18 lakh street lights fall under this category and that the replacement initiative, expected to enhance illumination within two months at a cost of approximately 20 crore, will also address issues related to underground cabling and vandalism-prone areas. The goal is to achieve 96-97% operational street lights, significantly improving safety and visibility for residents.