Land factor hits proposals for sub-stations

Acute shortage of space has hit the SPDCL proposals to set up new sub-stations in the Vijayawada Urban and Rural areas. The SPDCL authorities have plans to construct 10 to 12 new sub-stations in the city alone, and a few more in Vijayawada (Rural) jurisdiction.

The SPDCL authorities have plans to construct the sub-stations in areas including Vambay Colony, Sitarampuram, Ramvarappadu, Bharati Nagar, and ESI Hospital.

The authorities have planned to construct the sub-stations at Old Government General Hospital (GGH) and new GGH. They expected that these sub-stations would ease the burden on existing sub-stations, but the proposals are remaining on the paper for want of land.

The SPDCL has asked the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) to earmark lands for its sub-stations in Vambay Colony etc. The Corporation officials, sources say, have agreed to provide land at Vambay Colony and Bharati Nagar.

It, however, did not materialise. Another proposal for a sub-station at Gannavaram airport is also pending for want of clearance from the Airports Authority of India.

The SPDCL has planned to construct the sub-stations at Veerapanenigudem and Mustabada villages also.

The SPDCL authorities have zeroed in a land at Rayanapadu. The land owner, however, wanted the authorities to shift the high-tension lines passing through his land if land were to be provided, and negotiations were going on, sources say.

The officials have estimated that it would cost Rs. 1.3 crore for a sub-station in a rural area and Rs. 1.5 crore to Rs. 1.6 crore in an urban area.

Nearly 10,000 consumers in urban and 5,000 consumers in rural areas would be benefited if the sub-stations were constructed.

The sub-stations should be completed before December-end to meet the summer demand in 2014, officials say.

The SPDCL authorities could commission the sub-station near Padavalarevu, and commence the works at Government General Hospital (GGH) recently. The proposed new substations would help in meeting the demand for next three to four years.