As part of a massive drive to improve the distribution network and safety of consumers, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) has replaced thousands of damaged and old electricity poles in the city.
The drive, organised in two phases on November 12 and December 26, covered areas of south Chennai and its suburbs. Over 4,000 poles were replaced with new ones.
“There were frequent complaints from residents that the poles installed several years ago were in a bad shape, leading to safety concerns. Also, the electricity department identified the occurrence of energy loss because the overhead electricity cables had lost the required tension and the network needed more poles to be installed in between the old poles,” said a Tangedco official.
Giving data about the numbers, the official said 4,276 old poles were replaced with new ones in south Chennai.
In the first phase 2,079 new poles were installed on November 12. In the second phase 2,197 old poles were replaced at a cost of Rs. 60 lakh. The poles were replaced in a single day in each instance.
At places like MGR Nagar, a locality housing low-income groups of people, in K.K. Nagar, 70 new poles were installed to ensure maximum safety.
The south Chennai region includes Adyar, Guindy, K.K. Nagar, Tambaram, Porur, IT Corridor, Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram divisions.
Special drivePreviously, there was a shortage of poles, but a special drive was taken up to purchase new poles on a large scale for this purpose. As the north and central regions of the city have underground power cable facility, the drive did not cover these regions, an official said.
