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Smart City plan: civic body moots underground power cable network

No more tension: A sum of ₹71 crore is likely to be earmarked for the project.

Overhead low tension electric cables may be a thing of the past, at least in some parts of the city if a plan mooted by Tiruchi Corporation materialises.

The civic body has written to Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) to chart out a plan of action to create an underground electric cable network in the city as part of its Smart City Initiative.

Laying underground cable network in seven sq km area in and around Rockfort temple was one of the components in the proposal submitted by the Corporation to the Centre for including Tiruchi under the Smart city project list.

After initiating a few projects, including Uyyakondan River Front Development, bio-mining of Ariyamangalam dump yard, construction of commercial complex at Thillainagar and formation of 16 public parks under the Smart City initiatives, the civic body has turned its attention on establishing an underground cable network in the city.

To begin with, it has identified six locations to construct ducts, enabling Tangedco, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and others to lay underground cables. It is learnt that the Corporation has engaged a private company, in association with the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchi, for preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR).

The proposal is expected to be sent to the Commissionerate of Municipal Administration (CMA) in Chennai for approval shortly. A sum of ₹71 crore is likely to be earmarked for the project.

In addition to it, the Corporation has taken up the matter to Tangedco for extending the initiative to other areas.

N. Ravichandran, Commissioner, Tiruchi City Corporation, told The Hindu that establishing an underground cable network was an important component of Smart City proposal.

Besides constructing ducts, it had approached Tangedco for exploring avenues to bring all power transmission cables, particularly in commercial and narrow lanes, under the earth. The Corporation could share the project cost with Tangedco for executing the plan.

Besides Singarathope, the project could also cover, among others, NSB Road, Big Bazaar Street, Chinnakadai Street, Jaffersha Street, Nandi Kovil Street, Andar Street and Allimal Street.

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