PDB to change all overhead electricity lines in six major cities

After successful implementation of some underground electricity distribution lines in Dhaka city, the government is now planning to implement the same in six other major cities in a bid to improve the country’s power supply situation. The Power Development Board (PDB) has taken an initiative to replace all overhead electricity distribution lines to underground ones in six major cities to increase the longevity and reliability of the power distribution system. “We have already invited an Expression of Interest (EoI) for shortlisting international consulting firms for feasibility study and the preparation of detailed design and project report for underground cabling work (LT, 11 kv, 33 kv) in six major cities,” Mina Masud Uzzaman, secretary of PDB told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday. The cities are – Chittagong, Comilla, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Rajshahi and Rangpur, he added. The deadline for the submission of EoI is November 17. PDB secretary said the feasibility study would mainly start following the review of the distribution master plan network and the evaluation of the existing distribution network. He further said the work was aimed to reduce the average system interruption duration index and average system interruption frequency index in power distribution areas under PDB. PDB Chairman Khaled Mahmood said: “The government is working towards the development of power and a project will be taken to improve PDB’s power supply. “After its implementation, people will get modern power supply facilities.” PDB chairman also said the project would play a vital role in fixing low voltage and load-shedding problems which the citizens of major cities have been facing for a long time. Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) and Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (Desco) have already taken up some projects to change the overhead electricity lines to underground ones in Dhaka city. State Minister for Power, Energy And Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid recently told reporters that all power substations, transmission and distribution lines would be taken underground gradually, in phases. “There will be no overhead electricity cables in Dhaka city by 2025,” he said.