Banihal, Sept 14: The ongoing strengthening of the power infrastructure is set to significantly improve electricity supply across Banihal-Gool, with the augmentation of receiving stations, construction of new transmission lines and additional transformation capacity being taken up in a phased manner, MLA Sajjad Shaheen said on Monday.
Shaheen was speaking ahead of the dedication to the public of the Khari Receiving Station, whose capacity has been upgraded from 3.15 MVA to 6.3 MVA.
He said the Khari augmentation is among the power-sector works that have either been completed or are at an advanced stage, aimed at addressing the long-standing capacity constraints in the constituency.
The Banihal Receiving Station has already been augmented from 6.3 MVA to 10.6 MVA, while the Sangaldan Receiving Station has been upgraded from 3.15 MVA to 6.3 MVA, with the newly installed transformer now ready for dedication to the public.
Shaheen said work on the new Tethar-Banihal electricity line is also underway, while a new power line from Marog to Ramsu is being taken up to strengthen the existing network and provide greater flexibility in power supply.
He further said that the installation of an additional 20 MVA transformer at the Tethar Grid Station is also in the pipeline, which, once commissioned, will further augment the transformation capacity and strengthen the electricity system in the wider area.
“These projects are being taken forward in phases, but together they represent a major strengthening of the power system in Banihal-Gool. The objective is to improve capacity as well as reliability and, once these works are commissioned, substantially reduce the frequent power interruptions faced by people,” Shaheen said.
He said the immediate priority was to complete the ongoing works and bring the additional infrastructure into operation at the earliest.
“The Khari and Sangaldan augmentations have reached the stage of public use, Banihal has already received additional capacity, while new transmission infrastructure and further grid capacity are being added. Once the remaining works are completed, the overall power network will be considerably stronger,” he said.
Shaheen said these interventions form part of the broader development momentum witnessed across Banihal-Gool during the past one-and-a-half years.
“A number of projects have been sanctioned across the constituency. Some are already under execution, others are at the tendering or implementation stage, while several are scheduled to commence. Our focus is to ensure that development reaches every part of Banihal-Gool, particularly remote and far-flung areas,” he said.
He said the development agenda extends beyond the power sector and includes roads, healthcare, education, sports, tourism and public welfare, with the objective of ensuring balanced and comprehensive development across the constituency.
Shaheen expressed appreciation for the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, saying the government’s emphasis on remote and difficult areas was helping address long-pending infrastructure deficiencies.
“Our objective is to build infrastructure that provides lasting relief to people. In the power sector, that means not only increasing capacity but also strengthening the network so that supply becomes more reliable. There is still work ahead, but the direction is clear and the process is moving forward,” he said.
Reiterating his commitment to equitable, inclusive and comprehensive development, Shaheen said the ultimate aim was to convert long-pending demands into completed projects and tangible improvements in people’s daily lives.
Executive Engineers PDD Ramban, STD Udhampur, AEEs besides local party functionaries, prominent citizens were present on the occasion.
