Date:23/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/23/stories/2007112358120100.htm

Front Page

Five new substations of TNEB nearing completion in Madurai district

R. Sairam

At Sholavandan, Mahatma Gandhi Nagar, Vandiyur, Ellis Nagar and near Meenakshi temple

MADURAI: The five new substations of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board coming up in Madurai are nearing completion.

They are expected to be commissioned by March 2008.

“Once completed, the substations will ensure better reliability and voltage levels of power being supplied to consumers. Power fluctuations will also be avoided. This will go a long way in ensuring that equipment used by the industry do not have their life shortened,” G.V. Ramaswamy, Chief Engineer (Distribution), Madurai Region, said on Monday.

The new substations are coming up at Sholavandan, Mahatma Gandhi Nagar, Vandiyur, Ellis Nagar and near Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple.

About five acres have been acquired for each of the substations.

While the temple substation alone costs around Rs.8 crore, the cost of each of the four remaining substations work out to Rs.10 crore.

The temple substation is expected to be commissioned before Pongal festival and the remaining will become operational by March 2008.

The temple substation will also have the distinction of becoming the first unit in Madurai district to utilise underground cables, for which the construction of ducts is being carried out on the four Chithirai Streets by the Madurai Corporation.

After the completion of substations, there will be a reallocation of existing feeding arrangements.

Mr. Ramaswamy said, “the new substations will also result in line loss reduction, which could potentially enhance revenues.”