Bhubaneswar: A Bhubaneswar-based engineering company in the MSME sector, Empowertrans, has successfully commissioned what they claimed to be India’s first cyclone-resistant 220 KV D/C transmission line in Puri.
The announcement was made by the company’s director, Asit Pradhan, during a press conference held on Tuesday. The project, awarded to the company by Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL), replaces the previous transmission line that was destroyed during Cyclone Fani in May 2019.
The 26-kilometre transmission line, connecting PGCIL Pandiabili to OPTCL Samagara at Puri, features innovative narrow-base special towers designed to withstand ‘wind zone six’ conditions. This is a significant upgrade from the previous infrastructure, which failed when wind pressures during Cyclone Fani reached around 300 kg per square metre, exceeding standard design parameters.
“This project represents a major advancement in power infrastructure technology. The successful implementation will serve as a model for similar projects in other cyclone-prone regions,” Pradhan said.
The project, undertaken in collaboration with the govt of Odisha and Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (OPTCL), involved comprehensive testing, including destructive tests, and the construction of special pile foundations in challenging terrain.
Empowertrans previously executed several landmark projects, including the first 400 KV link line for Vedanta’s IPP in 2009 and eastern India’s first monopole tower-based transmission line for India Power Corporation.
“The new transmission line, serving the pilgrim city of Puri, home to Lord Jagannath, represents a crucial step forward in building climate-resilient power infrastructure in India’s coastal regions,” reads a company statement.