India, Oct. 10 -- The Public Works Department (PWD) will soon begin leasing advertising space on streetlight poles along major city roads as part of its plan to make Delhi's ambitious "smart streetlight" project self-sustaining. Officials aware of the initiative said the plan could earn the department Rs.250- Rs.300 crore annually, offsetting the cost of the new city-wide street LED lighting system.

Around 100,000 poles across arterial and high-traffic corridors will host 2x3-foot ads, with strict design and safety norms to ensure road visibility and pedestrian movement remain unaffected, according to officials aware of the matter.

The revenue model will fund the citywide rollout of energy-efficient LED "smart lights" set to replace nea...