Pune: The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) has hit a roadblock in its planned 42-kilometer cable-laying network across the city, as the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has imposed a fee of Rs 6,000 per running metre for road digging. Dnyandeo Padalkar, the superintendent engineer of MSEDCL, confirmed the development.
Exorbitant Fee Hampering Infrastructure Plans
An MSEDCL official stated that the fee levied by the PMC is exorbitant and is hampering the power utility's infrastructure improvement plan. The cable-laying projects include stretches of 2-3 km at 21 locations under the District Planning and Development Committee, an 8.5 km line near Parvati, a 7 km line near Bund Garden under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, and 14.5 km under the Special Assistance Scheme.
Substation and New Connection Projects
MSEDCL also plans to set up two new substations in the Nagar Road and Mohammadwadi areas. Each substation typically requires laying 20 km of cables. Additionally, there are proposals for 57 new connections that would need digging up about 8.5 km of road, three new substations each requiring 20 km of cable laying, and regular cable maintenance work of around 2 km.
The power utility is urging the PMC to reconsider the charges to facilitate timely completion of these essential infrastructure projects.
