Four sub-stations to boost Chennai power supply

Chennai will receive more electricity in a few years with four high-capacity sub-stations being planned in the city. 

Now, the city and its neighbouring areas account for 3,000 megawatt (MW), equivalent to one-fourth of the State’s average demand of 12,000 MW. The figure is likely to go up in the coming years. 

These substations, to be set up at -

• Korattur
• Manali
• Sholinganallur and 
• Guindy

will form part of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-aided project. Of the project cost of Rs.5,000 crore, the JICA gives Rs. 3,500 crore in assistance, with the rest coming from the Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation

Each station, with a capacity of 400 KV (kilovolt), will ensure better power flow to load centres, besides helping to achieve stability in grid operation. All the substations will be commissioned by 2017

Going by the rule of thumb that one 400-KV station handle the load of 750 MW, the new stations will take care of 3,000 MW. If this were to be added to the existing stations, the total will go up to 6,000 MW

 

At present, there are 4 such stations, but all of them are located on the outskirts of the city: 

• Sriperumpudur
• Sunguvar Chatram
• Almathi and
• Kalivandapattu.