Underground Power Distribution Networks Completed in West Bengal Towns
Underground power lines for Rajarhat, Baruipur, other towns
The Times Of India
Image: The Times Of India
The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (WBSEDCL) has finished constructing underground power distribution networks in Rajarhat, Baruipur, Kharagpur, and Chandannagar. This project, funded by the World Bank, aims to enhance the reliability of electricity supply and reduce power outages during severe weather events.
- 01The underground power distribution networks are part of a Rs 2,800 crore project, with 70% funding from the World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
- 02The initiative aims to protect approximately 20 lakh customers from power outages caused by cyclones Aila and Amphan.
- 03The underground network in Rajarhat, which connects Kolkata Airport to Kestopur, was completed last year, while work in Chandannagar was finished in March 2023.
- 04A mixed infrastructure approach was adopted due to the unplanned nature of the towns, incorporating overhead aerial bundled cables in certain areas.
- 05Previous underground networks were established in Digha and other towns under various government initiatives.
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The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (WBSEDCL) has successfully completed the construction of underground power distribution networks in Rajarhat, Baruipur, Kharagpur, and Chandannagar, as part of a World Bank-funded project aimed at modernizing the state's electricity infrastructure. This initiative is expected to significantly improve the reliability of power supply and minimize disruptions during severe weather events, such as cyclones Aila in 2009 and Amphan in 2020, which previously left around 20 lakh customers without electricity for extended periods. The project, which has a total budget of Rs 2,800 crore (approximately $336 million USD), is funded 70% by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The underground network in Rajarhat was completed last year, while Chandannagar's was finalized in March 2023. However, due to the unplanned nature of these towns, a combination of underground and overhead aerial bundled cable systems was implemented to ensure safety and efficiency. This project follows earlier efforts to establish similar networks in other regions of West Bengal.
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The completion of underground power networks will enhance electricity reliability and safety for residents in the affected towns.
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