Mangaluru: The state govt has sanctioned underground cabling of Mescom power lines across the Ullal, Kotekar, and Someshwar urban local bodies, and parts of the Mannagudda and Kavoor subdivisions in Mangaluru city, at an approximate cost of RS 304 crore. At present, underground cabling exists only in a few pockets, such as the State Bank and Jeppu areas.Legislative assembly speaker UT Khader told reporters Wednesday that tenders for the project have been finalised and work orders were issued in March. Physical work is expected to begin shortly, starting with a ground survey that will take around three-and-a-half months.The Ullal, Someshwar, and Kotekar segment will be taken up at a cost of Rs 186.4 crore. The works include laying 144.1 km of high-tension (HT) lines and 223.4 km of low-tension (LT) lines. In addition, aerial bunched cables will be installed over 12 km in flood-prone areas such as Uliya, Margathale, and other locations.In the Mannagudda sub-division, works worth Rs 67 crore will cover areas including Kudroli, Bejai, KSRTC and Urva Stores. The plan includes 62.8 km of HT lines and 45.7 km of LT lines. The Kavoor sub-division project, estimated at Rs 51 crore, will cover Airport Road and adjoining areas, with 47.4 km of HT lines and 48.7 km of LT lines.All works will be taken up simultaneously and are expected to be completed within 24 months.Khader said the project has been planned with the region’s growth over the next 30 to 35 years in mind. He said underground cabling costs nearly twice as much as overhead systems but offers advantages such as protection from extreme weather, improved safety, reduced maintenance, enhanced reliability, prevention of power theft and improved urban aesthetics. The cables will be laid at a depth of 1.5 metres, and modular streetlights will be installed after the cabling work is completed.He chaired a coordination meeting with officials from Mescom, the National Highways Authority of India, public works department, Mangaluru City Corporation and water supply department, and urged all departments to ensure timely execution. He also appealed to the public to cooperate, noting that the work could cause temporary inconvenience.Khader said approval has been granted to upgrade the 32 kV power station in Ullal to 110 kV. Proposals have been submitted to upgrade the 10 kV station in Konaje to 20 kV and to establish a new 20 kV station, for which Mangalore University has been requested to provide one acre of land. There is also a proposal to upgrade the Kotekar power station from 10 kV to 20 kV.Mescom managing director Jayakumar was present.
