Pune: Over 40,000 Electricity Consumers Affected In Baner, Balewadi Areas Due To Underground Line Excavations
Pune, 29th August 2023: Ongoing excavations for Pune metro and smart city projects, as well as other infrastructure works in the Aundh, Baner, and Balewadi areas, have inadvertently led to significant challenges for the local power distribution company, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL).
JCB excavations, aimed at facilitating these projects, have inadvertently resulted in the accidental severing of underground power lines. This situation has led to power interruptions for approximately 40,000 to 45,000 electricity consumers in the region. Distressingly, these incidents have recurred at 32 separate locations over the past three months.
The ongoing metro construction work, particularly in the Baner and Balewadi regions, has necessitated excavation, unfortunately leading to the unplanned severance of underground power lines owned by MSEDCL. Metro pillar and station installations along the University Chowk to Baner-Balewadi road stretch are currently underway. However, the efforts to relocate the power infrastructure along this road have been halted since 2020, as directed by the Metro authorities. The requisite budget for this power infrastructure relocation has already been sanctioned by MSEDCL.
Simultaneously, under the Smart City initiative, various construction activities, road expansions, and the excavation of water supply channels are ongoing. MSEDCL had allocated a budget for the relocation of the power infrastructure, specifically to accommodate the road expansion. Unfortunately, the road expansion work proceeded without the prior relocation of the power infrastructure. Consequently, five 22 KV power lines owned by MSEDCL now lie buried beneath a 15-foot deep concrete road. The potential rupture of these lines poses a significant challenge, given the complexity of repair.
Also Read In Marathi: http://www.punekarnewsmarathi.in/pune-plan-to-cut-underground-power-lines-in-excavation-40-thousand-electricity-consumers-suffer-in-baner-balewadi/
The excavation of these underground power lines has been undertaken by contractors working on various projects, including the Metro, without prior coordination with local MSEDCL offices. Consequently, over the past three months, these excavations have led to the inadvertent severance of power lines at 32 different locations, both high and low-pressure lines. The consequences have been felt acutely by consumers, predominantly residing in Baner, Balewadi, Aundh, and Sakalnagar areas, experiencing prolonged power disruptions.
According to MSEDCL, engineers and staff members of MSEDCL have been working tirelessly to repair or replace the damaged power lines, alongside efforts to provide alternative power supply arrangements. Instances of power interruptions lasting two to three hours have been reported in areas without available alternative power supply. This situation not only impacts electricity sales but also places the financial burden of repairing the damaged power lines. Alarmingly, instances of multiple cuts at the same location have been reported, further exacerbating the situation. Moreover, the ongoing rainy season has posed additional challenges to the repair work on these underground power lines.
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