Plan to take power cables underground in bid to give cleaner look to streets in Kalaburagi

Home Minister and district in-charge Priyank Kharge (right) discussing the underground electricity network project for Kalaburagi with GESCOM Chairperson Praveen Patil Harwal and other officials, in a meeting in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company Limited (GESCOM) has drawn up a proposal to replace overhead electricity lines with an underground cable network along 17 major road stretches covering approximately 49.4 route kilometres in Kalaburagi city.GESCOM Chairperson Praveen Patil Harwal said the proposal is aimed at improving public safety, enhancing the city’s appearance, reducing power disruption, and facilitating road widening in future by removing overhead electrical infrastructure.The project, which has been divided into five zones, envisages the installation of approximately 279 km of high-tension (HT) underground cables and 121 km of low-tension (LT) cables.The proposal will be placed before the GESCOM Board of Directors for approval, with funding proposed through a public-private partnership (PPP) model.Which sections will be coveredMr. Harwal told The Hindu that the proposed underground network would cover several important roads and junctions in the city.The identified stretches include Hirapur Circle–MSK Mill–Rashtrapati Circle–Timmapur Circle New Jewargi Road–Kothari Bhavan–Ram Mandir Circle Annapurna Cross–Jagat Circle Old RTO Cross–Shahabad Ring Road–Ken Bridge School Jagat Circle–STBT–National Chowk–Nagareshwar School VTU Regional Centre to Kusnoor village Kapnoor Industrial Area Kalaburagi Railway Station Aiwan-e-Shahi Shahabazar The routes have been grouped into five zones to facilitate phased implementation.How the transformation will take placeUnder the technical plan, the existing overhead 11-kV distribution lines would be converted into an underground cable network. The work would involve trench excavation, installation of protective ducts and cable chambers, laying of cables, and restoration of affected roads and footpaths.“The proposal envisages installing modern electrical switching and protection equipment, including Ring Main Units and remote monitoring systems, to improve the management of the distribution network. Necessary modifications would be made for distribution transformer centres, low-tension feeder systems, and consumer connections,” Mr. Harwal said.According to the project proposal, the work would be carried out zone by zone, beginning with detailed surveys, mapping of existing utilities, and preparation of a Detailed Project Report.This would be followed by civil and electrical work, testing and commissioning, and the transfer of consumer connections to the underground network.Existing overhead poles, conductors, and associated fittings would be removed after the underground system is commissioned.Initiative to modernise Kalaburagi infrastructureTaking the proposal forward, Minister for Home, Information Technology and Biotechnology, and e-Governance, and Kalaburagi district in-charge Priyank Kharge, held a a meeting with Mr. Harwal and other senior officers of GESCOM in his office in Bengaluru recently to discuss the project’s design and feasibility.“It is a significant step towards modernising Kalaburagi’s infrastructure and creating a safer urban environment with improved electricity distribution and smoother traffic movement. The underground power network is expected to help organise electricity distribution infrastructure more efficiently and provide modern facilities in line with Kalaburagi’s growing urban requirements. It will minimise maintenance requirements and tree-trimming costs, reduce risks associated with exposed overhead wires, and improve the reliability of electricity distribution,” Mr. Kharge said on October 29.Mr. Harwal said the project would help modernise Kalaburagi’s power distribution infrastructure in line with the city’s growth. However, the proposal is subject to approval by the GESCOM’s Board of Directors.Benefits of going undergroundIn 2017, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh completed one of the biggest initiatives in India to take power cables underground. Overhead infrastructure was replaced by an underground power cable network in a 16-sq-km area that included congested lanes in residential localities and markets.Apart from giving a clean look to the pilgrim centre, power distribution loss came down from over 40% to less than 10% while power connections went up, which contributed to the revenue of the service provider. Published - October 30, 2026 09:57 am IST