Underground power cables have been damaged three times during highway-widening work between Wakad bridge and Chandni Chowk in Pune, prompting Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) to lodge a police complaint against the contractor and warn of wider risks to power supply in Aundh, Baner and Mahalunge.
MSEDCL said cables were damaged on October 16, October 17 and October 31 while work was being carried out on the stretch. The incidents caused power outages, disrupted consumers and resulted in financial losses for the utility through repair and restoration work, according to the electricity distribution company.
The utility has alleged that the contractor continued roadwork despite repeated warnings and without ensuring the safe relocation of underground power lines. MSEDCL said electricity cables obstructing highway widening and service-road construction must be shifted through a prescribed process before the work proceeds.
Under that process, the agency executing the project must obtain a cost estimate from MSEDCL, secure the necessary approval and complete the required formalities before shifting the cables. Senior MSEDCL officials said approval had been obtained for the work within the limits of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, but similar permission had not been secured for the section falling within Pune Municipal Corporation limits.
The first reported incident took place on October 16, when a cable supplying power through the 22kV Beverly feeder was damaged during the highway work. On October 17, a cable belonging to the 22kV Nia feeder was damaged near Bitwise Chowk. A third incident was reported on October 31, although the supplied report does not identify the feeder involved.
MSEDCL said repeated cable damage had made it difficult to maintain an uninterrupted electricity supply. The utility estimated that repairs and restoration had caused losses worth several lakh rupees, while power disruptions also affected consumers and its revenue.
The company warned that proceeding with the roadwork without properly identifying and planning for 22kV high-tension and low-tension underground lines could create future supply risks. A fault affecting these cables could disrupt electricity to a large number of consumers in Aundh, Baner and Mahalunge.
MSEDCL also raised concerns that cables currently positioned along the roadside could be left beneath the widened carriageway or buried under concrete. If that happens, locating faults and carrying out repairs would become more difficult. Excavating a concrete road to reach a damaged cable could extend restoration time and affect electricity supply to lakhs of consumers, the utility said.
The Baner branch office under MSEDCL’s Aundh sub-division lodged a formal complaint at Bavdhan police station on October 27. The complaint alleges that the contractor continued work despite prior warnings and without first ensuring the safe relocation of underground power lines. MSEDCL has asked the police to initiate legal action to prevent further damage to public property.
