The Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL), having come under fire for power disruptions during the past week after the city touched its peak power demand of 5,014 megawatt (MW) on June 8, has planned to tackle the issue by improving the distribution network in a big way.

A senior TNPDCL official said the power disruptions issue was not about power supply, rather deficiencies in distribution network in some localities. Chairman and Managing Director J. Radhakrishnan has planned to improve the distribution network in the city in two ways — expediting ongoing projects and taking up fresh ones to replace legacy assets and meet future demand growth.

Officials will continuously monitor the various distribution network projects, including the 400-kilovolt (KV) source connectivity to Taramani and Guindy and creating additional power sources in Manali and Pulianthope, which are places identified as thickly populated areas. Officials have also been directed to fast track ongoing substation works being executed in the city.

With several substation projects in the city currently at the 75%–95% completion stage, the works will be completed before summer next year. As part of substation work, dedicated project monitoring teams have been appointed to resolve issues regarding land acquisition and approvals, monthly review meeting between transmission, and distribution officials and ample procurement of electrical equipment.

Twenty substations have been identified as being in need of additional source arrangements including at Usman Road in T. Nagar, West Mambalam, Koyambedu, East Mogappair, Karambakkam, Red Hills, Iyyappanthangal, Gandhi Nagar in Adyar, Chitlapakkam, Injambakkam, and Kottivakkam.

Officials have also mapped places for adding power capacity in Sholinganallur on Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Chitlapakkam, Hasthinapuram, Madipakkam, Akkarai, Kodungaiyur, Vyasarpadi, Ambattur, Tiruverkaddu, Ennore, Madhavaram, and Thiruporur.

A ₹59.52-crore project to lay underground power cables for an estimated distance of 288 kilometres will be sanctioned and completed in a time-bound manner. Similar projects have also been planned to augment power sources in Gummidipoondi, Irungattukottai, Oragadum, Tiruvallur, Tiruttani, and Tiruvalangadu.

S. Ramesh, a resident of multi-storey apartment Purvankara in Medavakkam, urged the electricity department officials to take up the construction of a substation near the apartments, for which a vacant land had already been allotted.