TN Overhauls Power Infra Ahead of Monsoon; Defers Smart Meter Tenders Over Data Security
To address acute manpower shortages in field operations across Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Kanchipuram, approval was granted to induct 5,000 personnel
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Energy Resources and Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar on Monday announced an extensive overhaul of the state's power infrastructure, including the raising of pillar boxes and replacement of over 1,600 ageing transformers in Chennai and neighbouring districts, to avert disruptions during the monsoon and peak summer demand.
The minister also said the tendering process for smart meters is likely to be deferred by two months to incorporate crucial revisions.
Addressing a press conference following inspection reviews across Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Kanchipuram districts, the minister outlined key steps underway to overhaul distribution networks and streamline field workforce management.
"Around 15,000 pillar boxes have been identified for raising to prevent water ingress during rains. Out of these, nearly 1,000 locations flagged by the city corporation have already been completed, while work on the rest is progressing under a structured plan," he added
In addition to 600 transformers identified earlier, he said another 1,000 units aged between 20 and 25 years will be replaced phase-wise across the metropolis. Night patrolling and breakdown attendance have also been bolstered with 55 new vehicles rolling out this week to replace defunct fleets, complementing the existing 97 vehicles to handle emergency fuse-off calls.
To address acute manpower shortages in field operations across Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Kanchipuram, approval was granted to induct 5,000 personnel.
"Nearly 2,600 contractual staff have already been onboarded, trained, and deployed for overnight breakdown response, while another 2,400 contract workers are scheduled to join within a week," Kumar added.
To prevent past irregularities in contract hiring, Kumar asserted that circle-wise open tenders have been mandated, replacing undocumented ad-hoc recruitments. Permanent recruitment drives are also being pursued through formal service commission routes. Nearly 1,800 candidates are awaiting physical tests, and financial clearance is awaited to requisition another 5,000 field assistant posts via the TNPSC framework.
On infrastructure upgrades, the minister said work on the long-pending 400 kV sub-station at Guindy -- initiated in 2017 -- is being fast-tracked on a war footing for completion shortly, which will relieve load constraints in the surrounding belt.
Tenders have also been floated for 97 sub-stations out of an estimated requirement of 600 units statewide.
Responding to queries on the rollout of smart meters, the minister said Tamil Nadu has sought modifications from the Union government to ensure consumer data remains strictly hosted on electricity board servers rather than private cloud infrastructure, alongside mandating eSIM technology.
Kumar dismissed claims by former Assembly Speaker M Appavu regarding solar park permissions as "baseless".
"Approvals for 4,000 to 6,000 MW were obtained by violating several rules. They do not have any land at all; not even a single cent of land. Yet, they have obtained 100 MW and 200 MW. Besides that, there is a company that is not even a letterpad company; it has not even been registered. All these were given speedy approvals till last March without having the required investment or land," Kumar alleged.
Approvals for fresh projects have been placed in abeyance pending the formal launch of the state's comprehensive battery storage policy, he explained further.
Refuting reports that approval had been granted to private developer Baashyaam for projects in Nungambakkam, in violation of building regulations, Kumar clarified that the department had verified the matter and no such sanction had been accorded.
He also added that over 45 tenders with suspected violations across departments are facing formal inquiry and FIRs.
"Full-fledged investigations are underway. Wherever evidence is found, investigations are being conducted in all of them. If there is evidence, cases are filed immediately without any hesitation... If a mistake has occurred, a case will definitely be registered," he added.