IT-enabled power supply for ‘urban towns’ in three years

Government is aiming at information technology-driven power distribution in the next 3 years that will allow users to get a supply status at 4,041 urban towns on a real-time basis. Once this project is up and running, the consumers can get the information through the URJA mobile application. 

“All 4,041 urban towns in the country will be IT-enabled in the next three years. The government has already approved the expenditure for covering an additional 2,636 urban towns. The tenders will be floated soon,” a senior official said. “Under the old Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme, as many as 1,405 urban towns were to be covered for making those IT enabled. The work has already been completed in 1,222 urban towns.” 

As part of the project, as many as 48 engineers designated as Urban Vidyut Abhiyantas (UVAs) have been roped in to assist the power discoms, facilitating better consumer connect and monitoring of Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS). 

The UVAs with an experience of 3-15 years in project management, distribution franchisee and infrastructure sector shall be positioned at every discom. As many as 50 discoms will be covered under the programme.