The Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) is likely to commence the much-awaited underground cabling work by the end of August.
“The mini detailed project report (DPR) has already been prepared and cleared by the Power Finance Corporation (PFC), which has studied MVP Colony as a pilot area,” Discom CMD R. Mutyala Raju told The Hindu .
The final DPR would be ready by July 31, he said.
Post-Hudhud, the Discom has been pursuing the project as it is disaster-proof, minimises pilferage, and reduces maintenance work.
The project is estimated to cost Rs. 600 crore. While the World Bank will provide Rs. 400 crore, the remaining amount will be borne by the State government and the Discom.
Under the project, 7,000 km of cross-linked polyethylene cable will be laid across the city in three phases.
“In the first phase, we will cover 4,700 km of LT lines. In the second phase, 400 km of 33 kv lines will be covered. In the third phase, 2,000 km of 11 kv feeder lines will be covered,” he said.
The Discom has been sanctioned Rs. 120 crore from the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana, a Central Government scheme, to light up homes in all the un-reached areas.
“We have identified 800 tribal hamlets in the Agency areas of Visakhapatnam district in the first phase. In the areas where we cannot provide conventional power, we will go for solar energy,” Mr. Mutyala Raju said.
Simplified process
According to the CMD, steps are afoot to simplify the process at the call centres. The Discom has 66 call centres under its jurisdiction spread across the five coastal districts and the process for getting new connections is very cumbersome.
“We intend to reduce paper work and list of documents to be submitted. It will be made easier and simpler,” he said.
The Discom has been sanctioned Rs. 120 crore from Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana to light up homes in all
unreached areas