the street lighting system on motorways M1, M2 & M3, including the new bypass road leading to the Sir Seewoo…
(No. B/196) Mr L. Caserne (Third Member for Port Louis North & Montagne Longue) asked the Minister of National Infrastructure whether, in regard to the street lighting system on motorways M1, M2 & M3, including the new bypass road leading to the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, he will state if he has been made aware of several stretches where same are not functional, indicating the – (a) remedial measures being envisaged, and (b) frequency at which checks are carried out along these roads during the night.
Reply: The provision and maintenance of all street lightings found along Motorways M1, M2 and M3, including the new bypass road leading to the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, fall under the purview of the local authorities and the Central Electricity
189 Board (CEB). I am informed by the Road Development Authority (RDA) that it caters for street lighting only along new road projects and same are handed over to the local authorities once the projects are completed. I am informed by the CEB that it has a maintenance agreement for street lighting along Motorways M1, M2 and M3 with eight Local Authorities, namely the District Councils of Pamplemousses, Rivière du Rempart, Moka and Grand Port and the Municipal Councils of Port Louis, Quatre Bornes, Vacoas-Phoenix and Curepipe which is effective for a period of 36 months starting from 01 July 2022 and ending on 30 June 2025. With regard to parts (a) and (b) of the question, I am informed by the CEB that in order to keep all lighting operational along the motorways, routine inspections for street lightings blackout are carried out by the CEB and corrective and remedial measures are accordingly taken by the latter. Whenever faults occur on overhead cables and street lanterns, elevator lorry and Police assistance are required to carry out the repair works and same are effected within one week, subject to availability of Traffic Riders from the Traffic Branch Police. As regards part of motorways with heavy flow of traffic, such as in the region of Port Louis, Ebène, Pont Fer and St Jean, repair works are carried out on Sundays only, as per requirement of the Traffic Branch Police. Regarding the new bypass road leading to the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, I am informed that, at the request of the District Council of Grand Port, the CEB carried out repair works along the road to ensure that the street lightings are operational. It is now the responsibility of the District Council of Grand Port to ensure that the system operates efficiently with regular inspection and maintenance works.