Guwahati Enhances Power Infrastructure with New Substations
Significant Infrastructure Development in Power Supply
On July 14, Guwahati inaugurated 100 new distribution substations, marking a significant advancement in the state's power infrastructure aimed at enhancing electricity supply and reducing voltage fluctuations.
Officials indicated that an additional 96 substations, funded by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) through the System Enhancement and Loss Reduction Project, are expected to be operational by December. This Rs 3,000-crore initiative is projected to conclude by March 2026.
In the past three years, over 20,000 new transformers have been installed across various projects. Concurrently, the Central government's Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) has led to the installation of 12,000 km of new high tension (HT) lines, while 15,000 km of low tension (LT) lines have been upgraded from bare conductors to insulated cables.
According to officials, these infrastructure improvements have significantly enhanced power supply, resulting in fewer interruptions. The state has seen an increase in power consumption by 2,000 million units over the last three years, with per capita power availability rising at a rate of 5.72, nearing the national average of 6.55.
Despite these advancements, there remain considerable gaps in the infrastructure. Estimates suggest that an investment of approximately Rs 30,000 crore is necessary to fully revamp the state's transmission and distribution network.
A favorable HT to LT line length ratio in a power distribution system is typically around 1:1.2, which helps reduce distribution losses and improve voltage regulation for consumers. However, in Assam, this ratio stands at about 1:3, with around 3 lakh km of LT lines, most of which are in poor condition.
Officials noted that funding and geographical challenges have hindered progress. Out of the estimated Rs 30,000 crore needed, the government has secured Rs 3,000 crore from AIIB and Rs 2,500 crore under the RDSS. To address the systemic issues causing outages, a complete overhaul of the conductors is essential.
As of March 2025, the aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses in the state were recorded at 15.4 percent.