Underground transmission lines will ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity and reduce system loss, says State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid.
“The government will bring power connection to all houses across the county before deadline and uninterrupted electricity will become demand of time,” Hamid told a contract-signing ceremony in the city on Thursday (Dec 6).
Dhaka Power Distribution Company Ltd (DPDC) signed a contract with an Australian firm to conduct a feasibility study in the area under its jurisdiction to replace overhead power cables with underground ones.
As per the deal, Energytron will do the job at a contract value of Tk 22.54 crore within the next one year.
The job includes conducting the survey, feasibility study, preparing underground distribution system design, billing materials and estimating the cost to take the 132 kV, 33 kV, 11 kV and 11/0.4 kV electric cables underground.
Addressing the function, Hamid said it will be the biggest challenge for the Australian firm as overhead power cables pass through very narrow locations in the DPDC area.
He also urged Energytron to complete the work in the stipulated time. “You should appoint very efficient people to do the job as the nature of the areas is different from Sydney or any other Australian city. So, it needs people having communicative skills to make the proper design of the job,” he said.
Nasrul Hamid urged all other power distribution utilities to take initiatives to replace overhead power cables with underground ones, saying the government has planned to turn Dhaka city into a developed one.
He said the entire power distribution system should go underground maintaining safety and security.
The state minister said China has offered a substantial fund to take the overhead cables underground. “If the project proves to be successful, the other utilities will be encouraged to do so,” he said.