The Gujarat state cabinet, in its meeting on Wednesday, granted in-principle approval for the Gujarat Wire-Free City Mission project. This ambitious initiative aims to convert all overhead power lines in 17 municipal corporations and 151 municipalities into underground cables by the year 2030.
Project Details and Funding
Government spokesperson Jitu Vaghani informed the media that the project will be executed in a phased manner. For the initial phase, the government has allocated a provision of Rs 500 crore. “Apart from beautifying cities, the project will ensure that citizens lead a safe life, especially during times of natural disasters,” the minister stated.
Scope of Work
Providing further details, the spokesperson explained that the project involves the phased underground conversion of more than 14,600 circuit kilometres of high-tension overhead network and over 31,400 circuit kilometres of low-tension overhead network. In the first phase, 11 kV overhead lines will be converted into underground cables, followed by low-tension lines in subsequent phases.
Benefits of Underground Cabling
The spokesperson added that underground cabling will prevent incidents of wire breakage or short circuits during natural disasters such as storms. Additionally, with a reduction in technical faults, citizens will receive higher quality and uninterrupted electricity without any obstacles.
Cabinet Condolences
The state cabinet also condoled the death of sitting Manjalpur MLA Yogesh Patel, who passed away on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. Patel was elected as an MLA eight times and had also held a ministerial position in an earlier BJP-led state government.
