Rs 6,000 Crore Power Infra Works Under Way in AP

Kakinada:Energy minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar said on Monday that the government has taken up construction of substations across Andhra Pradesh at a cost of Rs 6,000 crore to strengthen power infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted quality electricity supply from villages to urban areas.

The West Godavari in-charge minister, along with Union minister of state for steel and heavy industries, Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, inaugurated several development works in West Godavari district on Monday.

The works included a newly constructed Gram Panchayat building at Nattarameswaram village in Penumantra mandal, built for Rs 40 lakh, an Ayushman Arogya Mandir village health clinic built at Rs 20.80 lakh, CC roads and drainage systems at Gaduvu village erected at a cost of Rs 30 lakh, and a road from Nauduru centre to Brahmana Cheruvu at a cost of `2.50 crore.

They also launched solar rooftop projects in the SC and ST colony at Neggipudi village, a new 50 MVA power transformer at the 132/33 KV substation in Penugonda, and a WBM road from Vadali to National Highway-16 at a cost of Rs 50 lakh in Achanta constituency.

Ravi Kumar said the alliance government is committed to providing quality power supply and is giving priority to strengthening infrastructure and improving consumer services in the power sector.

The government, he said, is working to provide better services without increasing electricity tariffs and noted that no increase in power charges has been made in the last two years, avoiding additional burden on consumers.

He said a toll-free number has been set up to address electricity-related issues and directed officials to respond promptly to consumer grievances and ensure speedy resolution without inconvenience to the public.

Minister BS Varma said electricity demand has been rising across the country and both the Centre and the state government are taking measures to meet growing requirements. More substations, he said, are needed in West Godavari district considering increasing domestic and commercial demand.

Achanta MLA and AP assembly privileges committee chairman Pithani Satyanarayana said that under the PM Surya Ghar scheme, solar power panels would be installed free of cost for SC and ST households, while BC families would receive subsidies along with additional financial assistance of Rs 20,000. He said subsidized solar facilities would also be extended to other sections.

He urged people to adopt solar energy in view of rising power demand and said the requirement for additional condensers in the constituency has already been brought to the notice of the energy minister.