Noida power cuts during storms and rain are expected to reduce after the electricity department began replacing conventional conductor lines with low-voltage covered conductor (LVCC) lines in three more residential sectors. Work is under way in sectors 40, 12 and 30, in addition to sectors 39, 36 and 56, according to the electricity department as reported by Live Hindustan – NCR.
The new lines are being installed to reduce local faults caused when exposed conductors come into contact during strong winds and rainfall. Such contact can trigger sparking, damage or breakage of wires and increase the risk of electrical accidents, the report said.
The work in sectors 40, 12 and 30 resumed at a faster pace after the rains stopped. More than 15,000 consumers in these three sectors are expected to benefit once the work is completed. The electricity department has said that the upgrade across the six sectors is part of a wider plan to replace older conductor lines in Noida’s established residential sectors.
Most of the city’s older sectors currently have conventional conductor lines. Unlike these exposed lines, covered conductors are designed to offer greater protection against faults when wires come into contact. The department has set a target of completing the replacement programme across all 37 older sectors within a year, according to the report.
The proposed coverage includes sectors 11, 12, 14, 15, 15A, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56 and 61. The electricity department has referred to both high-voltage covered conductor (HVCC) and LVCC lines in describing the broader replacement programme.
If the planned work is completed, approximately 2.5 lakh consumers across the 37 sectors could receive more reliable electricity supply. The immediate work, however, is limited to the six sectors where the department says line replacement is currently under way.
The upgrade also has a safety dimension. Repeated sparking and wire breakage during storms can disrupt supply while creating the possibility of injury and property damage. Replacing vulnerable sections of the distribution network is therefore intended to address both service interruptions and risks associated with damaged overhead lines.
Vivek Kumar Patel, superintendent engineer, technical, at the electricity department, said the HVCC and LVCC work had started to provide uninterrupted supply to consumers. He said work was currently being carried out in six residential sectors and would help consumers in older sectors receive more reliable electricity. The department’s next stated milestone is to extend the replacement work to the remaining older sectors, with completion targeted within a year.