Work begins on shifting power lines underground.

The Project Implementation Agency is hopeful of completing the work on underground electricity cable work in Puducherry by April next year.

The PIA, which was set up to oversee the tsunami rehabilitation work, has been entrusted with the task of shifting the 50,000 low-tension household overhead connections to underground under a World Bank-assisted Coastal Risk Reduction project.

The agency, on Thursday, commenced work in Mudaliarpet, Uppalam and Ariankuppam constituencies. Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy inaugurated the work and the respective MLAs were present.

Under the scheme, 3,445 services will be shifted from overhead lines to underground cables. Of these, 2,042 services are in Mudaliarpet, 551 in Ariyankuppam, and remaining 852 in Uppalam.

The work involves laying 108.5-km cable on a road length of 25 km in these constituencies, said an official with PIA.

A senior official with PIA told The Hindu that the agency had completed procurement of material and now the cable had to be laid. “We are hopeful of completing the work by April next year,” the official added.

The PIA had taken up cable-laying work extending to 37 km in the coastal villages of Ganapathichettykulam, Periyakalapet, Chinnakalapet, and Pillaichavady in Kalapet constituency.

The agency had taken up conversion of 16.2 km of overhead high-tension lines into underground cables in Vaithikuppam, Ginjee Salai and Kuruchikuppam areas.

The shifting of the connections to underground cables was expected to reduce disruption in power supply, especially during natural calamities, the official said.

THE HINDU