MMRDA to illuminate Rajbander village at Elephanta Island

Mumbai, May 12, 2010 – In a new development that could be a potential game changer for the many households/villages that still spend their lives in darkness without having any electricity. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region development Authority (MMRDA) with support from Pune based Science and Technology Park (STP) is illuminating all household of Rajbander village, at the Elephanta island using solar power with four lamps in each household. They will also get a port for charging of mobile phones. Now this village will not have to depend on limited hour diesel power supplied presently.
This island, though almost in the heart of Mumbai being isolated by sea, is not connected to grid and is deprived of electricity.
Mr. Ratnakar Gaikwad, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA said, “The project is expected to be completed very soon and once completed, the village will benefit in a big way and will witness a major transformation.”
STP has made technical collaboration with Australia based company Solar Gem. The project will cost approximately Rs. One crore of which MMRDA will be funding 10 percent, STP will fund 40 percent and the remainder will be borne by the Australian government.
Designing of street poles was a great challenge. Being heritage site poles have to be artistically designed to suit cave architecture on one side and the lamps and poles also had to be protected from the menace of monkeys. The STP hired a famous Japanese designer Omura, to study and design and unique poles have been designed.
With the implementation of this project, MMRDA will not only introduce a ray of light in this dark village but will also contribute to the better lifestyle of the villagers and their overall economical growth.