Hyderabad: Underground cable laying a distant dream

Hyderabad: The laying of underground cables to avoid frequent interruptions in power supply during heavy winds and rain in GHMC area was still a distant dream. Though the project was launched about eight years ago under the restructured accelerated power development programme (RAPDRP), its progress is at snail’s pace. The purpose of underground cables is to minimise power supply interruptions that occur on overhead lines due to rain, wind and fall of tree branches.

The cost to lay underground cables is about Rs 80 lakh per km, including road-cutting charges. Southern Power Distribution Company (SPDCL) officials said laying of 132 KV cables from Panjagutta to Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences was progressing underground works are in progress. Work in Asi-fnagar, Chanchalguda, Borampet, Petlaburuju, Kaitullapur, Dontana-pally and other areas would be taken up at a cost of Rs 400 crore. The laying of the cables covering GHMC limits would be undertaken in a phased manner, they added.