Now, a clear sky at Karol Bagh, Paharganj

File picture of electrical wires jumbled up near Jama Masjid area in New Delhi. Photo: Sushil Kumar Verma

For residents of the congested commercial areas of Paharganj and Karol Bagh, the view of the sky will no longer be restricted by a crisscross of wires. Power distribution company BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) has shifted its electricity cables underground in both the areas.

The jungle of overhead cables that had become an eyesore has been shifted underground and state-of-the-art compact packaged sub-stations installed.

According to a company spokesperson the project costed a total of Rs. 50 crore. “This has not only beautified the area but also made it much easier to locate and fix electricity faults. This will also help reducing power theft,” the spokesperson said.

Referring to the work that was carried out, BYPL Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Narayanan said: “Despite the difficulties and challenges in shifting cables underground on account of a prolonged and unprecedented monsoons this year, and working in the narrow and congested by-lanes, BYPL team was able to complete the work on time.”

The prominent areas and crossings in Paharganj and Karol Bagh where electricity poles have been removed and wires shifted underground include Arya Samaj Road, Ajmal Khan Road, Saraswati Marg, Gurdwara Road, Dayal Chowk, Ravi Das Marg, Maharana Pratap Road, Pusa Road, Padam Singh Road, area around Siddharth Hotel among others.

“The scope of the work included shifting of over 200 km of cable and installation of 500 Feeder Pillars. Old sub-stations have also been replaced with 40 state-of-the-arts compact packaged sub-stations. These sub-stations looking like an enclosed box are also score very high on safety,” the spokesperson said.

With the cables going underground the company says it will now be easier for them to attend to complaints of faults. “Removal of pillars and old-sub-stations from the area has also created lot of space. With the new system, it will now also be possible for BSES’ state-of-the-art SCADA and GIS Systems to promptly identify the cause and exact location of the fault,” said Mr. Narayanan.