Bhubaneswar: To address the surging power demand in one of Odisha’s most mineral-rich regions, the state Cabinet on Friday approved the construction of a major new Grid Sub-Station at Basudevpur in Keonjhar district at an estimated cost of Rs 1,647 crore.
The project, proposed by the Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL), involves building a state-of-the-art 2×500 MVA, 400/220/33 kV Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) sub-station at Basudevpur, along with associated transmission lines to enhance the reliability and capacity of the power network in one of the state’s most mineral-rich belts.
According to an official release, th
e state government will provide 30 per cent equity support amounting to Rs 494.10 crore, while OPTCL will arrange the remaining 70 per cent (Rs 1,152.90 crore) through loans from banks and financial institutions.
The Joda-Barbil-Palaspanga belt in Keonjhar is home to several large, power-intensive industries. However, the existing Barbil, Joda, and Palaspanga Grid Sub-Stations (GSS) have reached their maximum loading capacity, leaving no room for additional industrial connections, it further stated.
The new Basudevpur facility will address surging electricity demand from upcoming industries in Keonjhar and the adjacent Koida area of Sundargarh district. It is expected to strengthen the overall transmission network, improve voltage stability, and pave the way for further industrialisation in the region, which has seen renewed policy focus under the current government to attract mega investments, including steel plants.
The composite project will be implemented over a three-year period from the financial year 2026-27 to 2028-29, it added.