Andhra Pradesh government. (File Photo)

Nellore:  The state government is strengthening the power transmission network to ensure uninterrupted and quality electricity supply in line with growing demand from all sections, Energy minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar said on Saturday.

He inaugurated the new Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (APTRANSCO) Superintending Engineer’s office, constructed at a cost of ₹3.40 crore in Ongole, along with Ongole MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, MLA Damacharla Janardhan and Santhanuthalapadu MLA B.N. Vijay Kumar.
The minister said the government was strengthening the transmission network and setting up 132/220/400-KV substations, with works worth around ₹6,000 crore being taken up across the state. Five substations were being constructed in the erstwhile Prakasam district and would be commissioned within four to five months, he said.
He said the government was taking steps to meet the surge in power consumption attributed to the El Nino effect and had directed GENCO to strengthen generation capacity. Power would also be procured from the open market at competitive rates whenever necessary, while renewable energy and battery storage systems would be utilised to meet peak-hour demand.
The state was targeting 20 lakh connections under PM Surya Ghar, of which around five lakh had already been provided, the minister said. He also directed officials to take steps to shift high-tension power lines obstructing the proposed Smart City works in Ongole.
MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy urged people to use electricity judiciously, while MLA Damacharla Janardhan said the government’s measures were improving power supply. He said a substation had already been commissioned in Ongole and the Kothapatnam substation would be inaugurated soon. Proposals had also been submitted for shifting high-tension lines affecting Smart City works, he added.


Tags: