The state-owned Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) would work on shifting their overhead electric cables underground in Dhanmondi areas of the capital from next month.
The drive is being launched to ensure uninterrupted and safe electricity supply along with beautification, DPDC officials said.
According to DPDC, a total of 190 km of overhead electric line will be taken underground in next two years in Dhanmondi including Mirpur Road, Satmasjid Road, City College and its adjacent areas under a pilot project. No cable will remain visible there.
After its implementation, people will get modern facilities with reliable, safe and quality power supply, DPDC official said.
DPDC will continue shifting over-head electric cables underground in the entire capital city including in the adjacent metropolis areas in Narayangonj, Savar and Keraniganj in phases.
Contact, DPDC Managing Director Bikash Dewan told Bangladesh Post, “We are now ready to start the job after completed all necessary preparations. An application has already been submitted to Dhaka South City Corporation (DNCC) to dig the streets in the project areas. DNCC mayor is very positive about the project. Hope we will get permission soon and finally the physical work will be started at the end of September.”
“We shall keep in mind that no inhabitants suffer during the cable digging works. If necessary, I will start the work after September. However, we cannot stop work once they start. In fact, the project work is being delayed slightly due to Covid-19 pandemic. We have plans to finish the job as soon as possible,” he added.
Dewan also said “Cable and some of other equipment already reached in the country and major equipment are being manufactured in China. Hopefully, they would arrive here within the next 6-7 months.”
“Once the project starts, it will play a vital role in improving the power distribution system and substantially check the unexpected interruption in power supply,” he also said.
Officials said that in case of overhead cable network on poles the following problems are faced - during natural disasters like cyclone, heavy rains, storm, earthquakes cables are disrupted, poles fall down, transformers fail to operate, and snapping of conductors due to trees falling on lines and falling of poles towers.
Restoration of damaged network needs longer time and require heavy investment. Power supply interruption for longer periods affects all other sectors. ln case of underground cabling, the above problems will not be there since the cables will be below the ground and will not be affected even by cyclonic winds.
Further the aesthetics of the city will be maximized and improved, accidents will be minimized and greenery of the city will be protected as there is no need to cut the tree branches.
In addition, DPDC undertook a Power Distribution System upgrading project to improve its network and system in its command area in Dhaka city and signed a contract with the Chinese contractor TBEA in September 2019 to implement the China-funded Tk20,500 crore mega project.
Under the project, 40 substations will be set up in the city while overhead cables of Hatirjheel Lake and Dhanmondi residential areas will be laid underground over the next five years.
Taking overhead cables underground from Jahangir gate in Cantonment to Motijheel is also included in DPDC’s other similar project.
Earlier State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told all power substations, transmission and distribution lines would be taken underground gradually, in phases. There will be no overhead electricity cables in Dhaka city after 2025.
Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB is now going to establish an underground distribution network (33kV, 11kV & LT lines including service connections) in Chattogram, Cumillla, Sylhet and Mymensingh. The other overhead lines in other districts towns will go underground in phases.
Sylhet is the first city in the country to have a road with no overhead cables. Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) successfully initiated underground power lines in the Dargah Gate area and removed all overhead cables and electric poles as a pilot project.