Cabinet clears Rs 463 crore for power line shift
The Delhi Cabinet on Wednesday approved projects worth around Rs 463 crore for shifting and undergrounding high-tension (HT) and low-tension (LT) electricity lines across multiple Assembly constituencies. According to the approved plan, works will be undertaken in 125 colonies and localities across Delhi at an estimated cost of Rs 267.20 crore.
Additionally, overhead lines along 26 roads in the Chandni Chowk area will be undergrounded at an estimated cost of approximately Rs 159.47 crore.
Terming it a ‘historic decision’, power minister Ashish Sood said this will reduce risks posed by unsafe overhead electricity lines in residential and densely populated areas.
Sood said that shifting and undergrounding of HT and LT lines are being prioritised in areas where overhead wires pose a threat to residents. “This decision is not merely about shifting power lines. It is a concrete step toward citizen safety and modern infrastructure development,” he said, adding that overhead lines in densely populated areas have long been a safety hazard.
As part of the broader initiative, pilot projects have already been completed in the BH Block, Shalimar Bagh, and C-4 East Block, Janakpuri. These models will now be replicated in other parts of the city. In 2025, approvals amounting to Rs 37.63 crore were granted for 15 proposals related to the undergrounding of overhead lines.
The minister also said that under the Government of India’s Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme, around Rs 109 crore has been approved for 13 proposals related to the shifting of HT and LT lines in Delhi. Once completed, these works are expected to further strengthen safety in high-density areas.
The Government has also drawn up a Power System Master Plan up to 2030. Under this roadmap, an estimated capital investment of around Rs 17,000 crore will be made over the next three years through Delhi Transco Limited and power distribution companies. Sood said the projects reflect the Government’s commitment to transforming Delhi into a safer and energy-smart city.
“The objective is to make Delhi’s electricity supply safer, more reliable and modern,” he said.
