Siliguri: The first phase work of laying underground cable in Siliguri started from Wednesday. Gautam Deb, Mayor of Siliguri, officially launched the work at the Eastern Bypass road in Ward 42. The project is aimed at modernising the city’s electrical grid and enhancing its aesthetics.
The initial phase of the project will cover 220 km across 19 wards under Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) with an estimated cost of Rs 248 crore. The work is being carried out by the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) under the West Bengal Electricity Grid Modernisation Project.
“This is just the beginning. In the first phase, 19 wards will be covered and later, more areas of the city will be included in the project,” said Mayor Gautam Deb.
The underground cabling project is part of a broader initiative by the SMC to address the long-standing issues caused by overhead wires, which have marred the city’s skyline and posed safety hazards. Tangled wires on poles have been linked to multiple accidents and occasional fires in various neighborhoods.
The first phase of the project will include key areas such as Hill Cart Road, Baghajatin Park, Seth Srilal Market, Bidhan Road and the stretch from Panitanki More to Shalugara. In total, the project will span 550 km and is expected to cost Rs 600 crore. Deb also confirmed that the first phase will include additional works such as streetlight installation and road restoration, which will proceed alongside the cabling efforts. “The first phase is expected to be completed within the next 18 months,” he added.