Patna: In a major step to modernise the city’s power infrastructure and improve its visual appeal, the Patna Electric Supply Undertaking (PESU) has accelerated underground cabling work under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). The Rs 328-crore project aims to shift overhead power lines underground across key areas of the state capital by July 2027.PESU general manager Dilip Kumar Singh said the work is progressing steadily, particularly in and around Gandhi Maidan. “Significant progress has been made near Gandhi Maidan, including areas around the commissioner’s office and the DM’s office, where LT (low tension) and 11 kV lines have already been laid underground. The 33 kV high-voltage line passing through Chhajjubagh near the Patna Museum has also been fully converted. The 33 kV line from the Planetarium to SK Memorial Hall via Chhajjubagh is nearly complete, with only minor finishing and termination work pending before the overhead wires are removed,” he said.Underground cabling work around Dak Bungalow Chouraha and the road leading to Patna Junction is slated to begin in the next three to four days, as surveys and detailed mapping for the stretch have been completed. Work in the area was paused earlier due to Ram Navami.Singh said the underground network will comprise three categories of cables — 33 kV, 11 kV and LT — all laid beneath the ground. The project also involves installation of ground-mounted equipment such as service pillars, feeder pillars for LT distribution, LT panels and Ring Main Units, which will help in quicker fault detection and faster power restoration.Of the total 95 km of 33 kV lines planned to be shifted underground across the city, about 15–16 km have been completed so far. “All 33 kV lines will be taken underground across Patna. In most areas, 11 kV lines will also be undergrounded, while LT lines will be shifted underground in select stretches. Around 10–11 km of 11 kV lines have already been laid underground after proper mapping, while 26 km of 11 kV bare conductors have been replaced with insulated covered wires,” he added.Out of 225 transformers proposed to be upgraded from 200 kVA to 315 kVA, around 130–135 have already been replaced. Four new 33/11 kV power substations of 20 MVA capacity each are under construction and are expected to become operational within the next two to two-and-a-half months. In addition, 62 compact 990 kVA transformers will be installed at different locations to optimise power supply.The project aims to strengthen the power distribution network, enhance transformer capacity, reduce power cuts and curb electricity theft through underground cabling.PESU plans to make the entire stretch around Gandhi Maidan, Dak Bungalow, Exhibition Road, Fraser Road, SP Verma Road, Boring Road and nearby areas free of overhead wires. Similar underground cabling of 11 kV lines is also underway in other parts of the city, including Patna City, Danapur, Khemnichak and the Bypass area.Singh said efforts are being made to complete major digging and cabling work before the monsoon. “Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) technology is being used with proper coordination among departments to avoid damage to existing infrastructure such as telephone lines and gas pipelines,” he said.Once completed by July 2027, the project is expected to significantly improve the reliability of power supply and lend a cleaner, more aesthetic look to Patna’s major roads and heritage zones.
