Chief Minister, Government of NCT of Delhi Smt. Rekha Gupta on July 12, 2025, inaugurated the capital’s first pilot project for the conversion of overhead electrical wires to an underground power distribution network at BH Block Colony, Janta Flats, Shalimar Bagh.
The project, located within the operational area of Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (Tata Power-DDL), is being executed by the discom, Tata Power-DDL said in a release.
Rationale
Drawing inspiration from modern power infrastructure in leading global cities, the conversion of the overhead electrical network to an underground system is a first-of-its-kind pilot project aimed at transforming the current infrastructure into a model distribution network. It aims to create a scalable and replicable model for safe, efficient, and aesthetically improved urban power supply infrastructure that can be extended to other parts of Delhi.
Project details
Under the newly commenced pilot project, 5 km of existing overhead lines (HT & LT) will be removed. A new 10-km underground LT (440V) network and 1.2-km underground HT (11kV) network will be laid. Further, with a view to improve illumination of street lights, new GI octagonal poles for street lights will be installed. With the execution of scheme consumer will get 24×7 supply, even during adverse weather conditions.
Improving reliability
The conversion will improve the reliability of the power supply by reducing the interruptions caused by faults in overhead networks, enhance safety, particularly in densely populated and encroached areas, where bare overhead conductors pose serious risks. It will help ensure minimal disruption in power supply, as the underground system offers better fault isolation in LT sections. Free up space above ground, allowing for better land use in urban areas and reducing obstruction for trees, buildings, and traffic thereby improving the appearance of streets, neighbourhoods, and public spaces.
New benchmark
Currently, cities across India grapple with tangled overhead wires, frequent outages during storms, blocked vehicular movement due to low-hanging lines, and lack of backup power sources in feeder pillars. This underground initiative by Tata Power-DDL, in collaboration with the Delhi Government, directly addresses these issues and sets a new benchmark in urban power distribution.
With the successful implementation of this pilot, the model may be extended across other colonies and districts, making Delhi a benchmark city for modern, sustainable, and citizen-centric utility services.
Also read: Delhi’s first urban microgrid inaugurated
Featured photograph (source: NKG Infra) is for representation only