CM studies Bengaluru underground power grid for Telangana revamp
Telangana Deputy Chief Minister on Tuesday visited Bengaluru to review the city’s advanced underground power cabling network developed by the Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM).
The visit is part of Telangana’s broader push to modernise its urban power infrastructure and enhance supply reliability. BESCOM officials presented details of their Overhead (OH) to Underground (UG) Power Conversion Project, launched in 2018–19. According to the utility, more than 7,400 kilometres of 11kV overhead lines and thousands of kilometres of low-tension lines have already been converted into underground or aerial bunched (AB) cables across the city. A notable innovation in the Bengaluru model includes the integration of Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) ducts alongside the underground cabling routes. These ducts not only help in future-proofing telecom infrastructure but also offer potential for leasing revenue through partnerships with communication providers.
Bhatti, accompanied by officials from the Telangana Energy Department, also visited a pilot site in Malleshwaram’s 15th Cross locality, where an underground power distribution network has been implemented, including underground distribution transformer (DTR) systems. The project demonstrated the feasibility of replacing overhead transformers and tangled power lines with safer, flood-resistant infrastructure beneath the surface. The Deputy Chief Minister’s Bengaluru visit follows Telangana’s stated commitment to upgrading Hyderabad and other urban centres under a smart and resilient power infrastructure model. The government is expected to incorporate insights from BESCOM’s rollout into upcoming proposals for underground cabling in Hyderabad, where overhead power lines have long been a source of outages and public safety concerns. State officials said the study tour was aimed at understanding cost structures, urban coordination challenges, and long-term benefits associated with underground cabling—especially in densely populated areas.
With urbanisation increasing pressure on civic systems, Telangana’s move to explore Bengaluru’s power distribution model signals a shift towards integrated, multi-utility infrastructure solutions. The adoption of such models may also align with the state’s broader climate resilience and smart city goals.
