TIRUNELVELI, India, June 26 (UPI) -- Several new street lights, traffic signals and other components of the municipal infrastructure in a southern Indian city will be solar-powered.
Installation of the fixtures is expected to start soon. The project includes 25 street lights, 20 street light control systems, five traffic signals, 10 cats' eyes and 50 road studs, all solar, according to a report in India's The Hindu newspaper
The initiative is a project of the Tirunelveli Corporation.
"Based on the success of the program, it will be extended to other parts (of the city)," the commissioner of the Tirunelveli Corporation, D. Chandrasekaran said.
"Solar traffic signals, blinkers (cats' eyes) and road studs will help motorists in a big way. It will ultimately reduce traffic congestion and accidents," Chandrasekaran said.
The Tirunelveli Corporation is also responsible for a project to establish 9 megawatts of windmills in the region, at India's southern tip, according to the report.
The solar project will cost $14.8 million, and will be subsidized by the Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency, the newspaper said.