In a remarkable feat of innovation and progress, Bengaluru became the first city in Asia to adopt electric street lamps on August 5, 1905. This marked a significant turning point in the city’s history, moving it away from the era of kerosene lamps and into the age of electricity. The shift not only transformed the city’s infrastructure, but also paved the way for domestic electricity connections, demonstrating Bengaluru’s forward-thinking approach.
Before the advent of electric lighting, sidenote: Bengaluru (also called Bangalore) is the capital of India's southern Karnataka state. The center of India's high-tech industry, the city is also known for its parks and nightlife. By Cubbon Park, Vidhana Soudha is a Neo-Dravidian legislative building.relied on kerosene street lamps. Three men were employed by the local administration to clean, refuel and light these lamps, with an inspector overseeing the entire operation. This daily practice, while charming, was soon to be replaced by a more modern system.
The man responsible for bringing electric street lights to Bengaluru was sidenote: William McHutchin, a Briton trained in the Madras Civil Engineering College and the then-chief engineer of Bengaluru at the Public Works Department, wrote a letter to Krishna Raja Wodeyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore, stating the need for electrifying Bengaluru., a Briton and the chief engineer of Bengaluru at the Public Works Department. He proposed utilising surplus power from the Shivanasamudra hydroelectric power station to light the city. At the time, the power station was primarily supplying the Kolar Gold Fields. McHutchin wrote to Krishna Raja Wodeyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore, to seek his approval, which was granted on May 30, 1904. The idea to use power from Cauvery Falls came from Major ACJ de Lotbiniere, who served under Seshadri Iyer, the Dewan of Mysore.
The project, estimated to cost Rs 7.46 lakh, began in Kanakapura. A switch station was installed there, with lines running approximately 92 km to Bengaluru. This infrastructure was set up in just nine months. A substation was also built near Victoria Hospital, which included a 450KV transformer to receive power from Kanakapura. The original Kanakapura station building still stands next to the new one that was built later.
The inauguration of the electric street lamps on August 5, 1905, was a major event. Sir John Hewett, a member of the Viceroy’s Council, officiated the ceremony at KR Market, where over 100 electric lamps lit up the city. This event marked a watershed moment in the city’s history, and the new electric street lights were quickly followed by domestic connections.
By June 1906, there were 861 streetlights and 1,639 domestic connections, generating a revenue of Rs 36,476. A 16-candle bulb (equivalent to 40 watts today) cost residents Re 1 per month, a significant expense at the time. An annual maintenance expense for the system was about Rs 50,000 while the estimated annual income was over Rs 1.18 lakh.
The early adoption of electric power by Bengaluru residents was seen as a sign of the city’s forward-thinking nature. Two of the original 30-foot wrought iron electric street lamp posts still exist in the BBMP head office at Corporation Circle. These disregarded artifacts symbolise the city’s spirit of modernity and open-mindedness. While other parts of Asia remained in the “dark,” Bengaluru embraced electricity, setting the stage for its transformation into a leading IT hub.
The implementation of electric street lights marked a significant step in Bengaluru’s journey to modernisation. It demonstrates the city’s ability to adopt new technologies and its progressive nature, traits that continue to characterise the city today.
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