Power distribution network in Chennai, nearby districts set for an upgrade
The TNPDCL, which is the restructured entity of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco), will set up 12 33/11 kilovolt (kV) substations to ramp up the distribution network in areas with increased power demand. While the Electricity Department has adequate electricity generation capacity, certain parts of the city and Tiruvallur district, faced unscheduled power cuts during the peak summer months this year.
Consumer activist T. Sadagopan said the delay in the upgrading and renovation of the 110-kV substation in Avadi, which is one of oldest substations, has resulted in several western suburbs such as Avadi, Pattabhiram, and Paruthipet facing power disruptions. While welcoming the announcement to construct three new 33/11 kV substations, he wanted one to be constructed at the newly inaugurated TIDEL Park.
K.S. Gopalakrishnan of Avadi said the substation in Pattabhiram caught fire due to power overload last year, leading to outages that lasted for over two days. He wanted officials to construct new substations within the proposed deadline. A senior official said the decision to set up substations was taken after taking into consideration the increasing power demand in several areas of north and west Chennai. These substations, to come up at a cost of ₹186.96 crore, will be commissioned in Broadway, M.K.B. Nagar, Pudupet, Mylapore, Mannurpet, Surapet, Avadi, and Sholavaram, among others.
Similarly, in Kancheepuram, which includes Sriperumbudur and nearby industrial zones, 20 new substations have been proposed at a cost of ₹325 crore. These are part of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme for 33/11 kV infrastructure improvement works, being undertaken at a cost of over ₹1,800 crore, and for which the REC has sanctioned a loan amount of ₹1,632 crore.
A total of 133 new substations is planned to be built across the State. Meanwhile, J. Radhakrishnan, TNPDCL Chairman and Managing Director, chaired a meeting with senior officials on fast-tracking the turnkey substation projects.
In addition to the new substations, the Electricity Department will upgrade the capacity of 33/11 kV substations at 11 places in the city at ₹39 crore, and at nine places in Kancheepuram district at a cost of ₹73 crore. The works will begin soon, the official said.
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