As India’s power sector moves towards 2026, underground cabling is set to become an increasingly important part of distribution and transmission networks, notes Kurang Panchal.
From a long-term perspective, underground cabling supports stable network performance and lower maintenance requirements. While the initial cost may be higher, underground cables typically have a longer service life and reduced fault rates/maintenance cost compared to overhead lines. They also support higher load density, making them suitable for rapidly growing cities, industrial corridors, and renewable energy integration. As distribution networks become smarter and more automated, underground cabling enables the deployment of advanced equipment such as ring main units, compact substations, and intelligent monitoring systems.
The RDSS boost
The Government of India has recognised the importance of resilient distribution infrastructure through initiatives such as the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), launched in July 2021. The scheme aims to improve the operational efficiency and financial sustainability of distribution utilities. Under RDSS, disaster- and cyclone-resilient works have been sanctioned for coastal regions in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh. These works include high-tension and low-tension underground cabling, ring main units, aerial bunched cabling, and strengthening of distribution transformers. The focus on underground cabling under RDSS highlights its role in reducing outages and ensuring continuity of power supply in vulnerable areas.
States also taking the lead
Complementing the central scheme, state-level initiatives have also promoted underground cabling in coastal regions. The Sagarkhedu Sarvangi Vikas Yojana, implemented in Gujarat, focuses on the integrated development of coastal villages, including strengthening of essential infrastructure such as electricity networks. Under this initiative, underground cabling has been adopted in several coastal areas to improve reliability, enhance safety, and protect power systems from saline conditions and cyclonic impact. This approach has helped create more robust and sustainable distribution networks in coastal belts.
Several states have accelerated underground cabling as part of power network modernisation. Maharashtra currently leads in terms of the extent of installed underground distribution networks, driven by large-scale implementation under central schemes such as the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) and the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) across urban and cyclone-prone areas. Karnataka, particularly Bengaluru, has steadily expanded its underground high-tension and low-tension networks to improve reliability and safety in dense urban zones. Telangana has announced one of the most ambitious urban underground cabling programmes, with plans to replace overhead lines across key city areas. States such as Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Uttarakhand are also undertaking targeted underground cabling projects, reinforcing the nationwide shift towards resilient and people-friendly power infrastructure.
Policy & regulatory support
Policy and regulatory measures further support this transition. In June 2021, the Ministry of Power circulated a task force report on Cyclone Resilient Robust Electricity Transmission and Distribution Infrastructure in Coastal Areas, advising states and union territories to identify cyclone-prone zones within 20–30 km of the coastline and follow improved design standards for new construction and reconstruction. The Central Electricity Authority’s disaster management plan emphasizes on grid resilience and disaster-resistant generation, transmission, and distribution networks, particularly in coastal regions such as the Konkan belt.
Regulations such as the “CEA (Technical Standards for Construction of Electrical Plants and Electrical Lines) Regulations, 2022” encourage the use of underground cables, GIS substations in coastal and seismic zones, and emergency restoration systems to minimise outages.
Accelerating the shift
Alongside government efforts, industry players are playing a vital role in expanding underground power networks. 
Looking ahead to 2026, continued policy support, state initiatives, and industry participation will accelerate the shift from overhead lines to underground cabling. One of our projects that is just completed, 132kV GIS substation in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, integrated with underground cables, demonstrate how modern and resilient technologies can be deployed across diverse geographies. As utilities focus on safety, reliability, and better urban environments, underground cabling will play a key role in delivering uninterrupted power, reducing maintenance challenges, and improving quality of life for consumers. Together, these developments underline a positive and confident outlook for underground cabling as a cornerstone of India’s future power infrastructure.
About the author: Kurang Panchal is Managing Director, Rajesh Power Services Ltd