 "Odisha raises outlay under ODSSP to Rs 4,600 cr")
Having learnt lessons from the Phailin cyclonic storm that battered power infrastructure in October last year, the state government has taken a relook into the scope of work initially undertaken under this project and hence has scaled up the investment.
ODSSP is aimed at beefing up the distribution system of the state and improve the quality of voltage supply to the consumers.
The project envisages setting up of 500 power substations. In the first phase, 178 sub-stations with 33 KV and 11 KV capacity will be established.
Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (OPTCL), the nodal agency to implement the project, had floated a tender in this regard in September last year.
In the second phase, 165 sub-stations will be installed while the balance will be installed in the last phase.
Upgradation of power distribution infrastructure is sorely needed since Odisha currently has 588 substations in total with 193 substations of 33 KV capacity separated by a distance of more than 30 km, resulting in huge transmission losses.
Besides, the rising consumer base of the state has also necessitated the need for upgradation of power distribution infrastructure. Moreover the outdated power system in the state had become more vulnerable to natural dsisasters like Phailin.
Phailin that hit the state's southern coast near Gopalpur on October 12 last year, caused extensive damage to the power infrastructure, especially in Ganjam, the district worst hit by the tropical storm.
Phailin had battered nearly 1,600 km of 11 KV lines in Ganjam district while 241 km of 33 KV lines were badly damaged. The rebuilding exercise included replacement of 300 distribution sub-stations and 54 extra high tension towers. Besides, 13000 km of low tension lines had to be repaired.
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To develop a robust and disaster proof power transmission and distribution (T&D) system, the state government has also announced other schemes and projects.
The government is going for a T&D system in Ganjam district including underground cabling and GIS (geographic information system). Entitled 'Odisha Power System Emergency Assistance Project (OPSEAP)', the project is estimated to cost Rs 1000 crore with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) providing credit of Rs 615 crore.
The project implementation will take three years. Initially, the state government will take up pilot projects at Berhampur, Chhatrapur and Gopalpur.
Disaster response centres have also been planned at district level, especially coastal districts, to enable better communication during natural calamities to manage pre and post calamities situation as quickly as possible in a strategic manner.
Such centres would be equipped with ERS (energy recovery system) gangs, ERS towers and vehicle mounted transformer with switchgear. The project is estimated to cost Rs 178 crore.