the goan I network
PANAJI
In a significant move, the State government has decided to switch off plans to set up substations at Verna and Tuem and hopes to save a significant Rs 314 crore in the process.
However, the electricity department has planned a new advanced substation at Saligao.
According to sources, the State government had announced a tender of Rs 174.69 crore for the proposed Verna substation and had even selected a company to execute the project.
However, the electricity department decided to scrap the idea after realising that power supply problems could be resolved by building a 63 MV transformer at a cost of barely Rs 10-15 crore, instead of spending significantly higher on building an 110-33 KV substation.
Sources added that the government has also scrapped its plan to build a Rs 140.22 crore substation at Tuem after realising that it won’t be of much use to the proposed Mopa airport.
Instead, the electricity department is confident of provide electricity to Mopa area from the Tivim substation.
“It is possible to provide enhanced power supply to Verna and Tuem areas by making required changes in the existing systems. Hence, plans for two new substations have been cancelled,” explained a senior official.
In a related development, the electricity department has planned a new advanced substation at Saligao, with the government deciding to cancel the old tenders and to float new tenders.
According to sources, the government had planned to build a Rs 140 crore substation at Saligao, but later decided to add Rs 10-20 crore more and build an advanced substation would cater to the entire area without any difficulty for the next 50 years.
Sources added that these new proposals by Power Minister Nilesh Cabral had received approval from the cabinet.
