Bengaluru / Hyderabad – On Tuesday, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu visited Bengaluru to closely examine a major underground power cabling project led by Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM).
This visit is part of Telangana’s broader mission to modernize its cities, aiming for safer, more reliable, and visually cleaner power infrastructure. The Deputy CM attended a high-level meeting with BESCOM officials to understand the progress and challenges of this large-scale project.
The underground cabling initiative began in 2018-19. Since then, BESCOM has replaced over 7,400 kilometers of 11kV overhead power lines and several thousand kilometers of low-tension lines with underground (UG) or aerial bunched (AB) cables. A standout feature of the project is the inclusion of Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) ducts alongside the power lines. These ducts can later be rented out to telecom companies, creating a new revenue stream.
During the review, Bhatti Vikramarka raised several technical and financial questions. He asked about the project’s funding, which includes support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), and various public sector banks. He also inquired about improvements in safety and efficiency. BESCOM reported a 2% drop in technical losses and electrical accidents since the shift to underground systems.
The Deputy CM was also interested in the readiness of the OFC infrastructure. BESCOM confirmed that while most ducts are installed, they are still coordinating with telecom providers and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for final connectivity. He also explored the role of Ring Main Units (RMUs), which help reduce downtime during faults and keep power supply stable.
Bhatti Vikramarka praised the scale and discipline of the project. He emphasized the importance of applying these learnings to Telangana’s own urban development plans, especially projects like the proposed Future City.
Later in the day, he visited a pilot site at 15th Cross, Malleshwaram, where a modern Underground Distribution Network has been built. The site features underground transformers (DTRs) placed in sealed chambers beneath the street, with accessible panels for maintenance. This design helps save space and increases public safety.
At the site, the Deputy CM spoke directly with engineers and contractors. He reviewed their safety procedures, load management strategies, and emergency repair plans. He noted that such compact and efficient systems would be especially useful in Telangana’s high-density urban zones.
The visit also included detailed presentations from Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited and BESCOM, led by Managing Director Pankaj Pandey. They showcased the transformation from overhead to underground power networks, calling it one of India’s most ambitious urban power upgrades.
Officials from Telangana’s power sector, including Krishna Bhaskar, CMD of TRANSCO, and Musharraf Faruqi, CMD of SPDCL, joined the discussions, signaling strong collaboration between Karnataka and Telangana on future power infrastructure development.
