Resolving Incidents Thoroughly to Ensure Public Lighting System Operations

On the evening of September 16, Comrade Tran Duy Dong, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, conducted an unannounced inspection of the public lighting system operations in Viet Tri, Vinh Phuc, and neighboring areas.

Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong inspects public lighting operations along Vu The Lang Street in Thanh Mieu Ward.

Field inspections along key routes such as Nguyen Tat Thanh, Vu The Lang, Tran Phu, and Nguyen Du (in Viet Tri, Thanh Mieu, Nong Trang, and Van Phu wards) showed that urban lighting systems are generally maintained. However, due to investments made across different periods, many components are outdated, unsynchronized, or subject to sudden technical failures.

Notably, along Vu The Lang Street (from Viet - Sec Urban Area to Dong Lac Ngan Urban Area), a capacitor failure caused a localized blackout at the time of inspection. Upon discovery, the Phu Tho Land Fund Development Center (the managing and operating unit) promptly mobilized personnel to fix the issue and restore stable system operations.

Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong inspects public lighting operations along Tran Phu Street in Viet Tri Ward.

According to a report from Thanh Mieu Ward, despite limited regular maintenance funds, the locality proactively allocated resources, established a reserve stock of lightbulbs and equipment, and tasked its Public Service Center with regular inspections and replacements. Since July 2025, the ward has independently replaced 192 damaged bulbs, ensuring safe lighting along managed routes.

Additionally, following instructions from the Provincial People’s Committee, the Phu Tho Land Fund Development Center set up a hotline (0812.322.822 — operational during office hours) combined with a Zalo OA account to receive public reports regarding urban infrastructure incidents and dispatch maintenance teams.

However, several main thoroughfares, industrial park access roads, and border areas across the province still experience lighting outages due to degraded equipment, burnt-out transformers, or cable theft. This situation presents traffic safety risks and potential security issues at night.

Specifically, in the former Vinh Phuc area, more than 2,000 streetlights are non-functional, 7 transformers burned out, over 4,900 meters of electrical cables were stolen or damaged, along with numerous degraded components.

Among the 47 routes managed by the Vinh Phuc Area Land Fund Development Center, 40 basic routes maintain operation, while 7 suffered major damage (5 experienced complete lighting loss and 2 achieved partial temporary restoration).

Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong inspects public lighting operations along Provincial Road 310 in Tam Dao Commune.

Concluding the inspection, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong acknowledged and commended the proactive approach of the Provincial Land Fund Development Center, as well as the initiative shown by the Thanh Mieu Ward People’s Committee in managing and maintaining the public lighting system.

To thoroughly address limitations and ensure a bright, green, clean, and beautiful urban environment, the Provincial Chairman requested the Department of Construction to lead and coordinate with the Provincial Project Management Board and regional Land Fund Development Centers to form an inter-agency inspection team. This team will conduct a comprehensive review of all streetlight routes province-wide, accurately classifying broken bulbs, expired equipment, or stolen items to formulate definitive resolution plans.

The Provincial Chairman approved the policy to transition and replace the entire system with energy-saving LED bulbs, authorizing the immediate use of contingency funds (5% of decentralized revenue/expenditure sources) or the Land Fund Development Center’s contingency fund for implementation.

He also instructed clear decentralization of authority and financial responsibility for operational electricity bills to commune- and ward-level authorities. Priority must be given to emergency repairs on long-distance blackout routes, complex traffic intersections, industrial park access roads, and high-risk traffic safety spots — particularly the 5 completely blacked-out routes in the Vinh Phuc area.

Commune and ward authorities are to coordinate closely with police forces to step up public communication, encourage vigilance, and actively protect public property, while publishing hotline numbers to receive reports on theft and infrastructure vandalism.

Phu Tho Newspaper, Radio and Television will increase coverage reflecting repair progress by functional forces and raise warning awareness regarding violations against public infrastructure.

The Office of the Provincial People’s Committee is tasked with issuing an official notice communicating the Provincial Chairman’s directions for relevant departments, sectors, and localities to implement consistently across the province.

Dinh Vu