Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday launched the TANGEDCO’s new SMS alert facility for the consumers. She also declared open power infrastructure facilities erected at a total cost of Rs. 394.49 crore and dedicated to the public Highways projects including roads, bridges and buildings worth Rs. 191.03 crore through video conferencing from the Secretariat here.
In what is seen as TANGEDCO bid to become more consumer-friendly, the SMS alert facility would help the consumers get data on units consumed, the charge and the payment due date.
All Low Tension Category consumers, except those under Agriculture and Hut Services, would benefit. It is estimated that around two crore consumers would stand to gain from the scheme.
All that the consumers need to do is to reach the local section office of the TANGEDCO, register their name, service connection and their mobile number to avail themselves of the facility.
The commissioning of the new sub stations could prove vital in strengthening the stressed power distribution system across the State and also in reducing transmission loss besides containing the runaway cost of maintaining ageing structures and facilities. Supply of quality power in uniform fashion required additional infrastructure such as upgrading existing sub-stations and erecting new ones, precisely which have been addressed on Thursday. New power facilities inaugurated included new 230 KV power sub stations in Tiruchi, Chennai and Coimbatore, 110 KV sub stations in seven districts, 33 KV sub stations in 20 places across the State.
Electricity Minister Natham R. Viswanathan, Chief Secretary Mohan Verghese Chunkath, Adviser to State Government Sheela Balakrishnan, Chairman and Managing Director, TANGEDCO, K. Gnanadesikan, Energy Secretary Rajesh Lakhoni and others were present on the occasion.
Ms. Jayalalithaa, in a separate function, also declared open a road over bridge constructed at a cost of Rs. 36.07 crore at Pattaravakkam in Thiruvallur district.
Apart from that, 28 new bridges constructed at a cost of Rs. 140.49 crore, outer ring road in Erode developed at a cost of Rs. 12 crore and eight new office buildings constructed at a cost of Rs. 2.47 crore, were opened.
Further, foot overbridges on GST Road near Chromepet Government Hospital and MEPZ, SBIOA school junction on the Inner Ring Road, TCS Junction and Perungudi on the Taramani Link Road constructed a total cost of Rs. 30.80 crore, were thrown open.
The foot overbridges have escalators, ramps, CCTV and adequate lighting facilities.
Highways Minister Edappadi K. Palanisamy, Principal Secretary, Highways, Rajeev Ranjan, Chief Engineer (Construction and Maintenance) K. Jayaraman were present.
