Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu announced on March 19 that smart meters would be installed for 42 lakh connections across Chennai at a cost of Rs 4,300 crore. The CM further said the smart meters will be installed in other parts of the states eventually.
To ensure the uninterrupted power supply, a total of 22 substations (110 kV) would be set up in various districts at an amount of Rs 998 crore, the CM added. The CM also informed that the substation at Alagarkoil in Madurai supplying around 230 kV of electricity would be upgraded to 400 kV substation. Moreover, the substations at Irugur in Coimbatore and Tiruppalai in Madurai each supplying 110 kV of electricity would be upgraded to 230 kV capacity.
Further, a new substation will be set up at Arasanur in Sivaganga district with a potential to supply 230 kV, he said.
To ensure that there are no power cuts in case of natural disasters in coastal areas, the CM also announced that electric lines for about 200 km, supplying power to 33 kV substations in Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Ramanathapuram, Kanniyakumari and Thoothukudi districts, would be laid underground at a cost of Rs 300 crore. Funds of around Rs 187 crore would be allocated for setting up new 33/11 substations in 23 locations, the CM added.
