The Hindu : Front Page : Now, power cables go underground

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 15, 2007
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Now, power cables go underground

R. Sairam

MADURAI: Overhead electrical lines hanging around Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple here will soon be a thing of the past with the work of taking them below the ground currently in progress.

The State Government has evolved a policy of putting in place underground electrical cables in all the six Corporations. Accordingly, the work in Madurai is being taken up first around the temple, given its heritage status.

The Madurai Regional Office of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board has sent a detailed project report, putting the total cost at Rs. 106 crore, to Chennai. Loan would be sought from Power Finance Corporation for this purpose, according to G.V. Ramaswamy, Chief Engineer (Distribution), Madurai Region.

PFC, a financial institution, is dedicated to power sector financing and committed to the integrated development of power and associated sectors.“At present, the Madurai Corporation is laying ducts around the temple. Once completed, we will commence the work of laying cables. The project is progressing in the right direction and as per schedule,” he said.

The Corporation is also laying ducts that could be used by other service providers such as Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited.

The TNEB will be laying totally 3 km of 11 KW lines around the temple. Once the works around temple is completed, a review would be undertaken.

“It is in the agenda of the TNEB to implement underground cables in the entire Madurai Corporation limits at the earliest. It will be done in a phased manner.”

The cost of laying underground cables throughout the Corporation has been tentatively put at Rs. 800 crore.

According to R. Sakthivel, Superintending Engineer, Madurai Corporation, work of laying ducts around the temple (four Chithrai Streets) will be completed by December.

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