In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO inaugurated Punjab’s first 66kV line on monopoles at the GT Road, Ludhiana.
He said the project would directly benefit the areas falling under Chaura Bazaar, Nurewal and Hambra sub-stations with 66kV GT Road substation now getting power supply from two sources, thereby easing the overburdened substation.
The minister, who was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik and Commissioner of Police Dr Kaustubh Sharma, stated that localities falling within the jurisdiction of these sub-stations would immediately get relief from power cuts as this new double-circuit power line had gone functional.
"As many as 49 monopoles have been installed to cover the 12-km distance spanning over the densely populated areas. These monopoles have a base of one meter to two meters in comparison to conventional towers that cover five-seven meters of area,” he said, adding that monopoles were suitable for erecting transmission lines in congested and thickly populated areas with right of way (ROW) issues in city areas.