CM Bhupendra Patel approves "Gujarat Wire-Free City Mission" in Cabinet meeting
Gandhinagar, June 4
A Cabinet meeting was held in Gandhinagar under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. During the meeting, in-principle approval was granted to the "Gujarat Wire-Free City Mission", further advancing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of developing Green and Smart Cities across Gujarat, a release said.
Briefing the media on the decision, Spokesperson Minister Jitu Vaghani stated that under the 'Gujarat Wire-Free City Mission,' all cities across Gujarat will be transformed into wire-free urban centres in a phased manner by 2030. As part of the first phase of this ambitious initiative, the State Government has approved a provision of Rs 500 crore, the CMO stated.
The Spokesperson Minister stated that the mission will cover all 17 Municipal Corporations and 151 Municipalities across the state. The initiative is expected to significantly enhance the aesthetics and safety of the urban areas of Gujarat.
Minister Jitu Vaghani stated that under the Gujarat Wire-Free City Mission, the existing overhead power distribution network in urban areas will be comprehensively converted into an underground cable network. As part of the initiative, more than 14,600 circuit kilometres of high-tension overhead lines and over 31,400 circuit kilometres of low-tension overhead lines will be shifted underground in a phased manner across the state, it said.
In the first phase of the project, the existing 11 kV overhead power lines will be converted into underground cable networks, followed by the phased undergrounding of low-tension distribution lines.
The Minister further stated that the underground cabling network will help prevent incidents such as snapped wires and short circuits during natural disasters, including cyclones. He added that the reduction in technical faults and outages will enhance the reliability of the power distribution system, ensuring citizens receive an uninterrupted, high-quality electricity supply, it said.
The Spokesperson Minister further emphasised that the 'Gujarat Wire-Free City Mission' is far more than a routine infrastructure project for replacing power lines. He described it as a historic and transformative initiative of the State Government aimed at building a smarter, more aesthetically appealing, and safer Gujarat for the 21st century, it added
— ANI
Reader Comments
Rs 500 crore for first phase is a hefty sum. Would love to see a breakdown of how much goes to actual infrastructure vs. maintenance. Also, hope they plan for future expansion—digging up roads again in 5 years would be a nightmare.
Great move! Cyclone-prone areas like Surat and Bhavnagar will benefit immensely. Snapped wires during monsoon are a real killer. This is the kind of farsighted infrastructure we need. Jai Gujarat!
A step in the right direction, but let's not get carried away. Overhead to underground conversion is expensive and often leads to longer repair times if something goes wrong. Hope they have a solid contingency plan for faults. Still, cleaner skies are welcome.
Impressive ambition by Gujarat. I've seen similar projects in Bangalore struggle with coordination between utility agencies. Hope the 'Gujarat model' delivers on its promises. The timeline to 2030 seems realistic if they maintain momentum.
My only concern: what about the existing telephone and optical fibre cables hanging on poles? Will they be included? Otherwise, we'll still have wires everywhere. Also, please prioritise areas with frequent outages first.
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