Govt unveils smart substation, launches Solarise East drive
The Delhi Government on Sunday unveiled the first-of-its-kind 2 x 1,000 kVA smart pad-mounted substation at Amar Mohalla, Gandhi Nagar, and ‘Solarise East’, a community-driven programme launched to promote the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and Delhi Solar Policy to accelerate rooftop solar adoption across East Delhi.
The initiatives were inaugurated by Harsh Malhotra, Union Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways and Corporate Affairs, and Ashish Sood, Delhi Power Minister, at an event held at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Surajmal Vihar.
Gandhi Nagar’s narrow lanes, intense commercial activity and scarcity of land make the expansion of conventional power infrastructure exceptionally difficult.
At Amar Mohalla, the existing 1,620 kVA substation was operating at nearly 92 per cent loading. Additional capacity was required to meet present demand and future growth, but there was no space to build a conventional 2,000 kVA substation. BYPL’s answer was to reimagine the substation itself.
Developed and commissioned at a cost of approximately Rs 1.60 crore, the installation comprises two compact 1000 kVA pad-mounted substations. Together, they have added around 380 kVA of capacity and will strengthen electricity supply for approximately 1,400 consumers in and around Amar Mohalla.
The installation occupies nearly 80 per cent less space than a conventional substation. Each unit integrates the transformer, ring main unit and low-voltage panel on a common frame within a sealed, metal-enclosed and touch-proof structure. Its factory-assembled, plug-and-play design is safer, easier to operate and requires less on-site construction. maintenance, support quicker fault isolation, address overloading and voltage concerns, and strengthen reliability during peak demand.
Installing the equipment in the narrow lanes adjoining Gandhi Nagar Market required meticulous planning, careful equipment and cable layout, coordination with residents and traders, and work during restricted hours to minimise disruption to traffic and commercial activity. Speaking on the occasion, Malhotra appreciated the efforts of the Delhi Power Department in meeting the record power demand this summer.
He also stressed that the Delhi Government is working diligently to meet the futuristic and ever-growing power demand of the national capital. He further stressed that these two initiatives by BSES are the right steps in this direction.
Delhi Power Minister Ashish Sood said, “Good governance is not just about solving today’s challenges; it is about preparing for tomorrow’s opportunities. Every substation we modernise and every rooftop we solarise is a step towards a stronger, greener, and more self-reliant.
Delhi Government’s Rs 1,427 crore investment in power infrastructure, the successful management of the record peak power demand of 8,748 MW without major outages, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to delivering Reliable, Affordable, Smart and Green Power while making Delhi’s electricity network future-ready.”
Together, the initiatives reflect the changing face of electricity distribution. The Gandhi Nagar substation demonstrates how compact engineering, automation and digital intelligence can strengthen the network where every square metre matters, while Solarise East will help consumers turn their rooftops into sources of clean power and savings.
Commenting on the initiatives, a BSES spokesperson said, “Aligned with the Delhi government’s vision of a Viksit Delhi, the Gandhi Nagar substation and Solarise East represent two sides of the same energy future. One uses compact engineering and digital intelligence to deliver reliable power where every square metre matters. The other will help consumers harness the sun and generate clean electricity from their rooftops.”
