The Yogi Adityanath government is making significant strides in enhancing the power infrastructure of Uttar Pradesh. Under the Revamp Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) run by the Government of India, proposals for projects exceeding Rs 65,000 crore are scheduled for approval in October.
In this, 60 per cent of the amount will be borne by the Central government, and the remaining 40 per cent will be met by the state government. Once completed, it will completely restructure the state’s electricity system, ensuring consumers receive uninterrupted, high-quality power.
To enhance the state’s electrical infrastructure and achieve better electricity distribution, the Yogi government is implementing RDSS on an extensive scale from 2021-22 to 2025-26. The goal is to reduce distribution losses to 12-15 per cent by 2024-25. Under the scheme, a proposal for works worth Rs 65,457.20 crore for modernisation of the power system in the state is to be sent for approval in October 2023. Of this amount, Rs 39,274.32 crore (60 per cent) will be financed by the Government of India, with the remaining Rs 26,182.88 crore (40 per cent) to be funded by the state government and discom.
The key projects include the construction of 1,175 new 33/11 kV sub-stations, capacity expansion of 2,002 existing 33/11 kV sub-stations, installation of approximately 22,000 km of new 33 kV lines, 1,15,704 distribution transformers, about 44,000 km of 11 kV lines, around 57,000 km of LT lines, and the capacity enhancement of 151,576 distribution transformers. Additionally, work of 17 SCADA and DMS will be executed in urban areas.
The scheme focuses on reducing distribution losses, implementing loss reduction measures, smart metering and modernising the power system. For strengthening the power system and reducing distribution losses, a total of Rs 16,498.51 crore has been approved by the Government of India, of which 60 per cent of the approved amount i.e. Rs 9,899.17 crore, is in the form of grant by the Government of India. The state funding will be done by the state government and distribution corporation.
Key loss reduction projects encompass connecting consumers through 271 lakh km of armoured cabling, constructing 15,000 km of LT lines with XLPE armoured cables, as well as expanding and strengthening 35,000 km of 11 kV lines and 16,000 km of 11 kV feeder separation.
The installation of smart prepaid meters is planned for 2.69 crore consumers, with an additional 15.26 lakh smart meters to be fixed on distribution transformers and 20,874 feeders. The Government of India has approved Rs. 18,885.48 crore for this metering project, with 15 per cent funded by the state government and the discom (Rs. 2,832.82 crore), and the remaining Rs. 16,052.66 crore allocated by the Central government.
Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited Chairman Dr Ashish Kumar Goyal is actively overseeing the progress of these initiatives and emphasising the importance of timeliness and quality in all project execution.
