Bhubaneswar: In a major boost to the power infrastructure of the state capital and surrounding areas, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on Thursday inaugurated three new grid substations and eight transmission lines at Balianata.
The three new grid substations — Balianata, Satyanagar, and SCB Medical College in Cuttack — were completed in a year at a cost of Rs 600 crore.
According to a CMO release, these projects had received approval long ago but could not progress due to various hurdles, including court cases. However, the state government’s determination and focused efforts ensured their completion within a year. “Where there is strong willpower, the impossible becomes possible,” the CM said while speaking at the inauguration.
He added that four power projects, including the one at Nayapalli which became operational last year, have been completed by OPTCL in the past year.
Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister K V Singh Deo said: “These new grid substations will act as fresh sources of power for Bhubaneswar and Balianata. People will no longer face low-voltage issues.”
These projects will place Bhubaneswar within a robust 132 kV and 220 kV power ring, significantly improving stability and reliability of electricity supply. Around 22 lakh consumers in the capital and adjacent areas are expected to benefit.
Power Demand to Double by 2030
The Chief Minister noted that Bhubaneswar’s power demand is currently around 1,000 MW and is projected to double to 2,000 MW by 2030. He emphasised that the state government is committed to strengthening and modernising the power infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted, high-quality, and reliable electricity supply to the capital, which will accelerate industrial, commercial, IT, and urban development.
Digital Grid and Future Plans
The Chief Minister mentioned that Odisha’s power system is being restructured in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India vision. The state has set up its first digital grid substations, and plans are underway to develop a 765 kV transmission system for the capital. Multiple feeder lines will further connect grid substations in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar to ensure greater stability.
He also directed Tata Power to provide three additional feeders to supply power to areas including Vingarpur, Uttampur, Gangeshwar, Pandara, Jagannath Nagar, Mangaraj, Palasuni, and surrounding regions.
River Restoration Projects Announced
On the occasion, Chief Minister Majhi also announced significant allocations for the restoration of rivers in and around Bhubaneswar:
>> ₹300 crore for the rejuvenation of the Prachi River
>> ₹75 crore for the second phase of the Dhanua River restoration in the Bhubaneswar-Jayadev area
>> ₹170 crore for the Daya River under the Sanjeevani Yojana
>> ₹400 crore for the restoration and improvement of the Daya West Canal
He assured that work on all these projects would begin very soon and be completed within the stipulated time frame.
Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, Jayadev MLA Nabakishore Mallick, OPTCL CMD Shri Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma, and Khurda Collector Amrit Ruturaj, among others, were present.
