New Delhi: The Delhi government is enhancing the city’s power capacity for the next 50 years, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Wednesday after launching a project to move overhead power lines underground at Chandni Chowk.Addressing the rally, Gupta said that 28 roads and streets in Old Delhi, including Kucha Mahajani, Bhagirath Palace, Jama Masjid Road and Nai Sadak, will no longer have electric wires hanging. The project will cost Rs 1.6 billion.A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said the work will be carried out in phases during the night to minimize disruption to daily life and traffic.About 10,000 consumers will directly benefit from the project, which will reduce fire hazards and weather-related power outages, increase power supply reliability and significantly beautify the historic district, the statement said.Gupta said the government is pushing hard to popularize electric vehicles, which will have a direct impact on demand for more electricity.The chief minister said the government would also restore the historic Town Hall building as a monument.A total of 52.5 km of overhead lines in Chandni Chowk will be moved underground to improve safety and reliability while retaining the heritage character of the area, officials said.The chief minister also laid the foundation for BYPL’s 66/11 KV, 63 MVA gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) indoor grid at Mandoli and four separate utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) across south and west Delhi.Officials said the digital twin system will bring real-time intelligence and predictive monitoring to Old Delhi’s modern power network.The Mandoli GIS indoor grid, constructed at a cost of Rs 55.5 crore, will strengthen the power backbone of northeast Delhi and benefit nearly 1.5 lakh consumers, the statement said.The target is to complete it within 18 months, it added.Residents of Mandoli, Harsh Vihar, Bank Colony and adjoining areas will get a more stable and reliable power supply.Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital, Mandoli Jail and DTC electric bus stand will also get guaranteed power supply, the statement added.The BESS projects of BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) with a total capacity of 55.5 MW will bring seamless supply to around 50,000 consumers in Shivalik, 1,28,000 consumers in Dwarka (G-5), 16,000 consumers in Dwarka (G-7) and 28,000 consumers in Goyla Khurd, the statement said.All projects are targeted to be operational by March 2027.The battery system will help reduce peak load shedding, improve voltage stability and strengthen the grid, the statement said, adding that the technology is environmentally sustainable and supports the clean energy transition.
