Abrupt power shutdowns and wild voltage fluctuations have become the order of the day near Begumpet and surrounding areas as the power authorities have decided to make the most of the time when the Chief Minister’s camp office is empty.
For the past one week, areas such as Begumpet, Greenlands and Ameerpet are experiencing unscheduled power interruptions, coupled with sudden fluctuations in voltage.
It has left the residents bewildered as the area is usually kept out of trouble due to presence of the Chief Minister’s residence-cum-office.
Upon enquiry, it was revealed that the CPDCL Metro Zone’s Operations wing has shutdown the Greenlands substation for refurbishment, and that the areas covered by the substation are being given alternative supply from other substations.
When the load goes beyond the limits on the alternative lines, emergency power cuts are imposed for shorter durations.
“Over six months, we have been taking very old substations in the city under renovation, as the project is pending for the past two years. Due to the presence of Chief Minister’s camp office, we could not take Greenlands substation for refurbishment all these days.”
“Now that the office is empty, this is the right time for us,” revealed an Operations official.
Last substation
Greenlands is the last among the eight substations that have been refurbished over the past six months, Chief General Manager of the CPDCL Metro Zone A.G. Satish Kumar informed.
The other substations include those at Public Gardens, Exhibition Grounds, Nampally, Sarojini Devi Hospital, Sultan Bazaar, Clock Tower and Narayanguda.
“Refurbishment includes retrofitting of the 11kv breakers as they have become very old and we are facing operational difficulties,” Mr. Satish Kumar said.
