Chennai: Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Tuesday announced in the Assembly projects worth Rs 4,126 crores to increase electricity generation and regularise distribution of power.
Two thermal power units generating 1,600 MW are being set up at Uppur in Ramanathapuram at a cost of Rs 12,778 crores, she said. The work on setting up the plant would be completed in 2020.
In Chennai suburbs, 17,535 transformers would be converted into ring main units to avert accidents and increase safety. At present, high temperatures in electric cables lead to power disruption and the conversion to ring main units would stop such power disruptions, the CM said Tuesday in announcements in the Assembly made under rule 110.
All the 38,844 pillar boxes in Chennai would be changed at an estimated cost of Rs 270 crores. The pillar boxes rust during rainy season leading to power disruptions and accidents. The existing pillar boxes would be replaced by HRC 6-way pillar boxes, she said.
A power substation would be set up at Virudhunagar at an estimated cost of Rs 2,000 crores to transmit electricity. Besides, the wind and solar power plants at Kayatharu, Kamudhi and Thappagundu would be linked to the Virudhunagar power substation, she said.
The power to be produced by the second and third phase of Udangudi thermal power plant would be transmitted to other parts of the state through the Virudhunagar power substation. It would also be joined with the Ariyalur and Coimbatore sub power stations with a capacity of 765 MW each.
The power produced by the Kothaiyaru hydro power project would be increased from 150 million units to 225 million units. For this purpose, the hydro power plant is being modernised at a cost of Rs 80 crores,
She also said that solar roof tops, each with a capacity to produce 20 KW of power, would be installed at 30 offices of engineers. Similar solar roof tops would be set up in 102 sub power stations, she added.
