Odisha Govt sanctions equity support for 18 OPTCL power transmission projects

Bhubaneswar, Dec 3: In another significant step towards ensuring quality power supply in backward areas, State Government today sanctioned input equity support to Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited for construction of 18 new transmission projects in backward areas.

Considering the necessity of the projects, Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi sanctioned the proposal for equity input support to OPTCL at a high level meeting held in Secretariat conference.

Energy Secretary Energy Hemant Kumar Sharma outlined the utility of the projects for socio-economic development of the concerned areas.

While approving the proposals, the Chief Secretary directed the department to complete the projects before the timeline and ensure quality power supply in these areas.

He fixed the March 2022 target to commission the entire project in different phases.

Sharma said that these projects would strengthen the system for stable and reliable power supply to the backward areas where presently available voltage is comparatively low.

The sanctioned projects included construction of new 400/220KV, 220/33 KV and 132/33 KV substations at different places namely Lapanga and Maneswar in Sambalpur district; Ghens in Bargarh district; Godachhak in Dhenkanal district; Kalimela in Malkangiri district, Keonjhar in Keonjhar district, Narisnghpur in Cuttack district, Satasankha in Puri district, Bhograi in Balasore dist; Birmaharajpur in Sonepur dist; Chikiti and Aska in Ganjam dist; Tirtol in Jagatsinghpur dist; Agarapada in Bhadrakh dist; and, G. Udayagiri in Kandhamal dist.

The estimated cost of these projects vary in the range of Rs.27 cr to Rs.126 crore.

Besides, the input support for 132 KV Kuchei to Jaleswar transmission line between Mayurbhaj and Balasore district estimated at the cost of Rs.41.34 crore and 400KV IB to Lapanga transmission line in Jharsuguda district estimated at Rs.26.44 crore were also sanctioned in the meeting.

The total input support against all these projects comes around Rs.250 crore, said officials.

The Chief Secretary directed that this amount would be provided in different installments over 5 financial years as the work at the ground level proceeds ahead.

Development Commissioner Asit Kumar Tripathy, Principal Secretary Finance Ashok Kumar Meena, Principal Secretary Public Finance Vijay Arora, Director OHPC Vishal Kumar Dev, Financial Advisor Bijay Kumar Behera along with senior officers of the concerned departments participated in deliberations.