- AMRUT 2.0 was launched on 1 October 2021 with a total indicative outlay of Rs 2,99,000 crore, including a central share of Rs 76,760 crore.
- Its core goals: universal tap water in all statutory towns and sewerage/septage coverage in the 500 AMRUT cities.
- AMRUT 2.0 has been extended up to March 2027 (PRS, August 2026).
- Under AMRUT, about 99 lakh LED street lights were installed, saving about 666 crore kWh a year (PIB, June 2025).
- The Smart Cities Mission covered 100 cities and officially closed on 31 March 2025.
AMRUT 1.0 vs AMRUT 2.0: where street lights fit
| AMRUT 1.0 | AMRUT 2.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Launched | 25 June 2015 | 1 October 2021 |
| Coverage | 500 selected cities | All statutory towns for water; 500 cities for sewerage |
| Main focus | Water, sewerage, drainage, green spaces, urban transport, reforms | Water security, sewerage/septage, water body rejuvenation |
| Street lighting | Energy-efficient LED street lights as part of the reform agenda; about 99 lakh installed | Not a core component |
| Period | 2015 onwards (extended) | 2021-22 to 2025-26, extended to March 2027 |
So if a consultant tells you a decorative pole must meet ‘AMRUT 2.0 street light norms’, ask them to point to the document. What they usually mean is the technical specification in that ULB's own tender.
What about the Smart Cities Mission?
The Smart Cities Mission ran in 100 cities from 2015. It paid for a lot of smart poles, CCTV integration and central monitoring, especially in area-based development zones. It was extended to 31 March 2025 and then closed. Maharashtra's mission cities included Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nashik, Nagpur, Thane and Solapur; Mumbai and Navi Mumbai withdrew early on.
Most of those cities now maintain the assets through their own budgets or the special purpose vehicles set up for the mission. New lighting work in these cities follows normal municipal tendering.
Where municipal lighting money comes from in 2026
- ULB own funds: property tax and other revenue, through the annual budget.
- 16th Finance Commission grants: the award period 2026-27 to 2030-31 has begun, with grants for both rural and urban local bodies. Check your state's guidelines for what the urban grants can be used for.
- State government schemes: many states have their own urban infrastructure or road improvement programmes that include lighting.
- Energy service (ESCO) models: a service company installs and maintains LED lights and is paid from the energy saved. This model drove much of the national LED street light rollout.
- MP/MLA local area development funds: sometimes used for specific roads; eligibility depends on current guidelines.
Clauses you will commonly see in municipal lighting tenders
These are not national mandates. They are clauses that show up again and again in ULB tenders we have bid on and read. Your tender may differ, so always read the actual document.
| Clause | What it means | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| LED luminaire to IS 10322 (Part 5/Sec 3) | Road and street lighting luminaire safety standard | Test report; BIS registration details where applicable |
| Minimum system efficacy (lm/W) | Light output per watt of the complete luminaire | LM-79 style photometric test report |
| IP65/IP66 and IK rating | Water, dust and impact protection | Accredited lab test report for the exact model |
| Surge protection | Protection against voltage spikes on the LT line | Surge protection device rating on the datasheet |
| CCMS / central monitoring | Remote on/off, dimming and fault alerts | Controller-ready luminaire; space and conduit inside the pole |
| Pole design to IS 875 Part 3 | Wind load design for the city | Structural calculation sheet |
| Galvanizing to IS 4759 | Corrosion protection of steel | Coating thickness test report |
| Warranty 5 years or more | Replacement or repair within the period | Warranty letter; local service arrangement |
Can decorative poles be used in municipal tenders?
Yes. Nothing in the national schemes restricts poles to a plain utility design. What matters is that the decorative pole meets the same structural, electrical and documentation requirements as any other. In practice the two things that trip decorative poles in tenders are:
- No wind calculation for the decorative parts. Scrolls, finials and lanterns add wind area. The design sheet must include them.
- No room for controls. If the tender asks for central monitoring, the pole and bracket must allow a controller and its cable. Plan a conduit inside the shaft from the start; retrofitting later costs more.
Finding live tenders
- Maharashtra: mahatenders.gov.in, filtered by ULB name.
- Central departments and PSUs: eprocure.gov.in.
- Direct purchases and bids: gem.gov.in.
- Search terms that work: ‘street light’, ‘LED street light’, ‘decorative pole’, ‘octagonal pole’, ‘CCMS’.
References
- Cabinet approves AMRUT 2.0 till 2025-26 — PM India (Government of India)
- 10 Years of AMRUT — Transforming Cities, Improving Lives (25 June 2025) — Press Information Bureau, Government of India
- Report summary: Review of Sewerage and Septage Coverage under AMRUT & AMRUT 2.0 (Aug 2026) — PRS Legislative Research
- Smart Cities Mission extension to 31 March 2025 (PIB background note, Sept 2024) — Press Information Bureau, Government of India
- Smart Cities Mission — status and closure on 31 March 2025 — Wikipedia (citing Hindustan Times)
- Panchayati Raj Ministry holds national workshop on 16th Finance Commission recommendations (3 July 2026) — News On AIR / Prasar Bharati
- IS 10322 (Part 5/Section 3) — Luminaires for Road and Street Lighting — Bureau of Indian Standards
- IEC 60529 — Degrees of Protection Provided by Enclosures (IP Code); Indian adoption IS/IEC 60529 — International Electrotechnical Commission / BIS
- Maharashtra e-Tendering portal — Government of Maharashtra
- Government e-Marketplace (GeM) — Government of India
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AMRUT 2.0 fund street lights?
Street lighting is not a core component of AMRUT 2.0, which focuses on water supply, sewerage and water bodies. The large LED street light rollout happened under AMRUT 1.0 reforms, with about 99 lakh LED street lights installed.
Is AMRUT 2.0 still running in 2026?
Yes. It was planned for 2021-22 to 2025-26 and has been extended up to March 2027.
Is the Smart Cities Mission still active?
No. It was extended to 31 March 2025 and then closed. Cities now maintain those assets and tender new work through normal municipal processes.
Are decorative poles allowed in municipal street light tenders?
Yes, as long as they meet the tender's structural, electrical and documentation requirements, including a wind calculation that includes the decorative parts and space for any required controller.
Where do I find street light tenders in Maharashtra?
On mahatenders.gov.in. Filter by the municipal corporation or council and search for terms like 'street light' or 'decorative pole'.
CCMS क्या होता है?
CCMS यानी सेंट्रलाइज़्ड कंट्रोल एंड मॉनिटरिंग सिस्टम। इससे लाइटों को दूर से चालू-बंद, डिम और खराबी की जानकारी मिलती है। इसके लिए पोल में कंट्रोलर और केबल की जगह होनी चाहिए।
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