EPDCL embarks on augmentation of Vizag's electricity network

Visakhapatnam: If the plans of the AP Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL), AP Transco and the state government are executed well, then Vizag will soon have a full-fledged power supply network that will hold goof for the next eight years.

Upon suggestions from the state government as well as the AP Transco, the APEPDCL officials are busy preparing a comprehensive master plan to augment the existing power supply network in the city keeping in view the electricity needs of the people, particularly big consumers like the industrial sector for the next eight years.

The APEPDCL will submit the master plan to the AP Transco by March 31 for the latter to take up further action.

Confirming this to TOI, APEPDCL chairman and managing director R Mutyala Raju said that the decision to prepare a master plan over the augmentation of the electricity network for the city was taken at a meeting they had with AP Transco officials including its CMD Vijayanand few weeks ago. "We decided to augment the existing power supply network in the city keeping in view the power needs of the consumers in the next eight years as Vizag is a fast happening city. We wanted to keep the city ready with a full-fledged power supply network as soon as possible. We have almost prepared the master plan and will submit the report to the AP Transco by the end of this month," Mutyala Raju said.

Some of the proposals that have been put in the master plan include - 132 kv sub-stations at Parawada, west side of the Pharma City. A letter has been sent to the APIIC for allotment of five acres of land for the sub-station. Another proposal is setting up a 132 kv substation at Paderu. Administrative approval for this has been issued and technical sanction is awaited. The discom has site for the sub-station. Similarly, a 132 kv sub-station has been proposed at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in the city near NAD Junction. Site for this unit too has been identified.

"We have proposed the sub-station at the NSTL as it is very essential for the Vizag Metro Rail project. Now, AP Transco has to conduct a feasibility study," Mutyala Raju explained. Similarly, another 132 kv sub-station has been proposed at Autonagar to cater to the needs of small scale industries. Likewise, a 132 kv sub-station has been proposed at Kapuluppada towards Madhurawada from the city to cater the needs of the software industry hub. The final proposal is for a 132 kv sub-station at Ozone Valley for the software industry, the APEPDCL CMD said.