Chennai, Sept 2:
Six new substations will be established in Chennai to strengthen the city’s power distribution network, Electricity Minister C.T.R. Nirmalkumar told the Assembly while responding to demands raised by MLAs on electricity-related issues.
The Minister said steps would also be taken to replace 6,000 transformers across the State this year. He said the government was examining complaints of low-voltage supply and would take measures to address the problem in areas where it persists.
Responding to concerns over frequent power cuts, Nirmalkumar said the Electricity Department was taking steps to restore power supply within 15 minutes of an outage, wherever possible. The department would work towards reducing the duration of interruptions and improving the reliability of supply, he said.
The Minister also said work was under way to establish six new substations in Madurai. The new facilities are aimed at strengthening the distribution network and meeting the growing demand for electricity in the region.
On safety concerns in Chennai, Nirmalkumar said action would be taken to raise electrical boxes installed at low levels. The measure is intended to prevent safety risks and improve the accessibility and protection of electrical infrastructure.
The Minister’s response came during discussions on demands raised by MLAs concerning electricity supply, transformer capacity, low-voltage issues, power interruptions and distribution infrastructure.
The government would continue to strengthen the electricity network by adding substations, replacing ageing transformers and addressing localised distribution problems, Nirmalkumar said.