Hyderabad: With growing electricity demand in Greater Hyderabad and need for more sub-stations for the uninterrupted power supply, the Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TGSPDCL) has decided to utilize technically suitable spaces available beneath flyovers and steel bridges in the city for setting up modern compact indoor substations. The discom was facing land issues to set electric sub-stations in the city as part of modernizing and strengthening of power infrastructure in Greater Hyderabad.“With electricity consumption and load continuously increasing across Greater Hyderabad, establishment of new substations is essential. However, non-availability of suitable land in key areas and high land costs have emerged as major challenges in developing new substations. The TGSPDCL is exploring the feasibility of adopting compact indoor substations by making optimum use of available space,” TGSPDCL chairman and managing director Jitesh V Patil said.Jitesh Patil and director (projects) V. Shivaji on Monday inspected the proposed site between Pillar Nos. 63 and 64 beneath the Nayani Narasimha Reddy steel flyover near Musheerabad bus depot for establishing a 33/11 kV indoor substation. The discom proposed the substation layout, 33 kV incoming supply, 11 kV outgoing feeders, underground cable routes and safety standards.The proposed indoor substation is planned as a modern unmanned substation, incorporating advanced technology to meet future operational requirements. “Through Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) integration, critical electrical systems at the substation will be remotely monitored, with provision for carrying out necessary operations remotely,” he said.Officials said that commissioning of the proposed indoor substation would help reduce the load on five existing 33/11 kV substations that are presently handling higher loads. The project is expected to strengthen the power distribution network in Musheerabad and surrounding areas.Musheerabad Substation to be Developed as a Model: CMDThe CMD said that in land-constrained areas of Greater Hyderabad, available spaces should be utilized efficiently after establishing their technical suitability. He said that setting up indoor substations at suitable locations beneath flyovers could facilitate development of modern power infrastructure within limited space and help provide consumers with more reliable and quality power supply.The CMD directed officials to prepare plans to develop the proposed Musheerabad facility as a model indoor substation, giving the highest priority to safety, technical standards, ease of operation and maintenance, and future load requirements.He further said that, based on the success of this model, technical feasibility would be examined for establishing similar indoor substations at other suitable locations facing land constraints.The CMD said the proposed substation is estimated to cost approximately Rs. 10 crore to Rs. 12 crore. In Greater Hyderabad, acquiring land separately for establishing a conventional substation could itself cost approximately Rs. 8 crore to Rs. 10 crore, depending on the location. He said that technically suitable spaces available beneath flyovers could help reduce expenditure on land acquisition while also providing an alternative solution to land scarcity in the city.The CMD said that public safety would be accorded the highest priority while planning and constructing substations at such locations.Necessary electrical isolation, earthing, insulation and protection systems would be provided in accordance with prescribed standards to ensure that the steel structure of the flyover or any other structural component is not exposed to electrical potential. Jitesh said that prescribed electrical safety standards would be strictly followed at every stage, from construction to energization and commissioning. The substation would be commissioned only after completion of all required inspections, testing and safety verification under proper technical supervision, he said.ends/
