Pune: The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) will set up four new substations in the Ravet and Kiwale areas of Pimpri Chinchwad after the monsoon to strengthen the power distribution network in these rapidly expanding suburbs, where prolonged outages during heavy rains earlier this month exposed the strain on existing infrastructure.Sinhajirao Gaikwad, superintending engineer of MSEDCL, said the two localities and adjoining areas are currently served by only two substations that cater to more than 70,000 consumers, covering a population of over 2.8 lakh.“The existing substations are heavily loaded. Once the four new substations become operational, we will be able to provide immediate backup supply through alternate feeders during outages, which is often difficult at present because the neighbouring substations are also heavily loaded,” Gaikwad said.The utility plans to begin work after the monsoon, as construction activities cannot be undertaken during the rainy season. MSEDCL has also sought the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s (PCMC) assistance in expediting permissions required for laying incoming power lines to the proposed substations.The decision follows widespread power outages during heavy rainfall earlier this month, when several housing societies in Ravet, Kiwale and Mamurdi remained without electricity for 48 to 72 hours. The outages disrupted daily life, forcing many residents to rely on diesel generators, while several employees working from home were unable to continue their work. The prolonged blackouts also triggered protests, with residents marching to the MSEDCL office in Ravet to demand faster restoration of power and long-term infrastructure upgrades.Officials said flooding had submerged several power installations, forcing supply to be suspended in some locations. The field staff struggled to respond to a surge in outage complaints across the affected areas.“We have identified electrical infrastructure that is vulnerable to flooding and shared its locations with the municipal corporation. We have requested alternate land to relocate these installations away from low-lying areas,” an MSEDCL official said.Officials said the existing substations were adequate when the area’s population was much smaller. However, rapid urbanisation and a surge in new residential projects in Ravet and Kiwale have significantly increased electricity demand, making it difficult to maintain uninterrupted supply or provide backup through alternate feeders during emergencies. The proposed substations are expected to improve the reliability and resilience of the power distribution network in these fast-growing suburbs.
