The AP-Transco and Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (SPDCL) are looking to Power Finance Corporation Limited (PFCL) and Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (RECL) for financial assistance to upgrade the power infrastructure in A.P capital region over the next five to 10 years.
The public sector power utilities have already started constructing new substations, laying new transmission lines and upgrading other facilities to be able to cater to the imminent spurt in demand in the capital region which is expected to be upwards of 1,500 Mega Watts.
A substantial portion of the power will be consumed in seed capital where all the government‘s most important buildings like Raj Bhavan, Assembly, Secretariat and High Court will be located.
According to official sources, proposals have been sent for 64 new substations of different capacities and the onus of showing land for laying underground (UG) cables throughout the capital region has been put on the government itself.
UG cabling
Sanction has been given for UG cabling in Vijayawada and Guntur cities on a pilot basis.
“The PFCL will fund projects in cities and towns and RECL in rural areas. We have information that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will chip in with a major contribution. Steps in this regard have been taken”, a senior official of SPDCL told The Hindu .
The upgrading projects have been proposed under the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) of Ministry of Power. The most important ones among them include a few gas-insulated substations which are considered safer and efficient than the conventional substations.
Another major component of the upgrading is to supply three-phase current 24X7 in the capital region to meet the burgeoning demand, a significant chunk of which will come from industries.
Besides, four 400 KV substations which can bear heavy loads are proposed in Guntur and Krishna districts. The Capital Region Development Authority is to provide land for the substations and other facilities.
The power utilities have given GPS coordinates of places where substations have been planned to be constructed and furnished other necessary information.
