2 yrs post Vardah, Tangedco yet to start underground cable work

“Tangedco has invited tenders for the project of laying underground cables in Chennai and its suburban areas. Once the tenders are finalised, work would commence and overhead cables would be done away with soon,” said an official at the rank of Executive Engineer at Tangedco. 

As MA Helen, Director (Distribution), Tangedco was not available for comments on the issue, but another senior official, on request of anonymity said, “The project of laying underground electric cables by replacing an overhead cable is a mega project and so it took two years for government to finalise the project. Once the project takes off the process of laying the cables will be completed in three years”. 

Cyclone Vardah caused a lot of damage in Chennai and its suburban areas where more than 20,000 electric posts were uprooted along with several transformers and high tension towers, supplying electricity from the sub-stations. There was power issue for more than a week as thousands of electric posts were damaged.  

After the cyclone, Tangedco officials had assured people that the overhead cables would be replaced by underground cables to prevent electric posts falling down and people dying of electrocution, but two years have passed and the cables are yet to appear. 

The official said that the major reason for the delay is the cost involved. “Laying underground cables costs six times more than overhead cables and hence the delay in government approving the project. Underground cables are completely safe as they will get tripped when there is any damage inflicted on the cables,” he added.