# Vellore motorists seek streetlights on new ₹90 crore VIT High Road 2026-09-28T02:11:22+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Motorists are demanding streetlights on the newly opened ₹90-crore Sathuvachari - VIT High Road in Vellore, which provides the shortest route to key government offices including the Collectorate, SP office, and EPFO. The 3.2 km stretch, built by the State Highways Department, remains largely unlit at night except for the new 475-metre bridge across the Palar River, which has LED lights. Commuters say the dark carriageway is risky due to speeding vehicles and the absence of warning signages, reflectors and blinkers. Officials of the State Highways Department say civic bodies such as the Vellore Corporation and panchayats must bear the cost of installing and maintaining streetlights under existing norms, and that additional funds are needed for road safety measures. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The demand for streetlights on the VIT High Road highlights a recurring funding gap in Tamil Nadu's road infrastructure: the State Highways Department builds major arterial roads, but the recurring cost of lighting falls on cash-strapped urban local bodies. Under the Tamil Nadu Municipalities Act, 1919, and subsequent corporation acts, civic bodies are responsible for street lighting within their jurisdiction, even on state highways that pass through them. Vellore Corporation's own revenue constraints likely delay this installation. The new ₹90-crore road, built with a high 20-foot bridge to prevent flooding, a design lesson from the 2009 Katpadi flyovers, now faces the slowest part of any infrastructure project: the final safety and utility fit-out. The next key signal will be whether the Vellore Corporation includes this stretch in its next quarterly streetlight procurement tender. ## Coverage - thehindu.com Tags: Palar river, State Highways Department, Vellore, Vellore Corporation, VIT High Road Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/vellore-motorists-seek-streetlights-on-new-rs90-crore-vit-high-road/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/vellore-motorists-seek-streetlights-on-new-rs90-crore-vit-high-road/#story-in-brief