KOCHI: THE Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has started the commissioning of Underground (UG) cable energisation of the City Automation Project (CAP) under the Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (APDRP).
KSEB has powered UG cables in 9 km in areas spread over the city so far. The commissioning process will be done in parts in a continuing manner to cover the whole area where UG cables have been laid. The KSEB authorities claim that the 115 km UG cable laying work of the 200 km to be completed under CAP have been finished.
The areas falling under Girinagar electrical section, Thevara electrical section, Central electrical section and Palluruthy electrical section have been energised so far.
Parts of Panampilly Nagar, Ponneth Temple Road, K P Vallon Road, Chilavannoor Road, Vidya Nagar, parts of Chittoor Road towards Vaduthala, Varghese Thettayil Road, Anathuruthuchira Road, Edakochi bus stand to Pambai Moola etc are some of the areas where the new system has been installed.
Though the city won’t benefit from the full advantage of automation till the CAP is fully commissioned, switching to UG cables from overhead lines boasts of many advantages as well. According to L Swala, Asst. Exec. Engineer, APDRP construction sub-division, KSEB, EKM, “the advantages of the new system will be felt more during rainy season as the frequent power cuts due to faulty power lines can be entirely avoided under the new system.” Voltage improvement, speedy restoration of power supply, better safety aspects both for the public and the electrical workers are some of the other advantages of the new system.
The UG cables along Panampilly Nagar Link Road, Thevara side of MG Road, Pandit Karuppan Road, Elamakkara Road upto the ferry are slated to be energised in the next two weeks.
The KSEB is planning to commission the energising work of the UG cables laid all through the city in phases over fortnights.