Jayalalithaa announces Rs 4126 crore worth schemes in energy sector

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday announced Rs 4126 crore worth schemes in the energy sector, including setting up of a 2x1500 MVA sub-station in Virudhunagar to transmit power generated from a 1600 mw power plant coming up in Ramanathapuram.

Making a suo motu statement in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Jayalalithaa said works at the 2x800 mw thermal power station at Uppur in Ramanathapuram were underway and scheduled to be completed in 2020.

"To transmit the electricity generated from this power station to rest of Tamil Nadu, a 2x1500 MVA, 765/400 kilovolt sub-station will be constructed at Virudhunagar at a cost of about Rs 2000 crore," she said.

Further, steps will be taken to transmit the power generated from the second and third sections of Udankudi thermal power station to other parts of the state through this sub-station, she said.

Also, 400 kv sub-stations covering solar and wind power units at Kayatharu, Kamuthi and Thappagundu will be connected with the Virudhunagar sub-station, she added.

The 765 kv each Ariyalur and Coimbatore sub-stations will also be linked with the proposed Virudhunagar sub-station, the CM said.

Further, Jayalalithaa announced Rs 80 crore towards the upgradation and modernisation of the Kodayar Hydel power station, which has been in operation since 1970.

Its installed capacity will be enhanced to 70 mw from the existing 60 mw, while steps will be taken to expand its lifespan to another 25 years, she added.

While the lifespan of a hydel power station was 35 years, it has already served for over 45 years, she noted.

Further, Jayalalithaa announced allocating Rs 1750 crore to replace over 17,500 existing transformers in Chennai and its surroundings with the more safe Ring Main Units.

Besides, 38,000 pillar boxes in Chennai and its suburbs will be replaced with better quality six-way pillar boxes at cost of Rs 270 crore, she added.