Gurgaon: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) have submitted a fresh proposal to the state discom to resolve technical issues delaying the shifting of high-tension (HT) electricity lines falling in the alignment of a trumpet flyover of the Dwarka Expressway.
In a letter sent by NHAI to the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited (HVPNL), the Authority has offered a proposal to resolve the differences over the technology to be used in the new HT towers. It is now seeking approval and shutdown of the 400kV lines by the discom so that shifting work can be carried out. The new proposal is in line with the options explored during a meeting with all stakeholders, including Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC), last month
While PGCIL and NHAI had earlier proposed to use high temperature low sag (HTLS) conductors on narrow-base towers, which are more efficient, HVPNL had opposed the design and asked them to explore the possibility of setting up quad moose conductors and introduce new towers to increase the power loadbearing capacity.
“In the last meeting, a lot of options were explored and suggested. PGCIL has evaluated all the possible options. Based on the feasibility and consensus by HSIIDC and HVPNL during the meetings, they have suggested a stopgap arrangement of stringing twin moose conductors on each cross arm. Now, the ball is in HVPNL’s court,” said a senior NHAI official privy to the matter.
“We’ve been actively pursuing this issue for months and have done everything possible to resolve the deadlock. We hope the discom now lives up to its commitment and provides approval for shutdown,” the official added.
“Power Grid had asserted that the narrow base towers can carry twin HTLS or twin moose conductors. Thereafter, it was decided that if HVPNL is not ready to accept the design, moose conductors may be carried through the available cross arms of the narrow base towers by bundling twin conductors. This is also as per the specifications endorsed by the discom,” said an NHAI official.
Apart from the deadlock over design issues, the question of ownership of the towers also created roadblocks. Initially, it was unclear which department would own the towers. HSIIDC, however, has now clarified that the ownership would be with HVPNL.
Last month, TOI had reported that due to the last-minute turn on tower design specifications by HVPNL, NHAI was incurring daily losses of around Rs 50 lakh and the project was facing undue delay.
According to NHAI, the discom had approved providing the shutdown from September 7. It, however, created a roadblock by asking design specifications on the day the shutdown was to be provided. NHAI and PGCIL claimed that they provided the technical clarification the next day and were assured that it was a formality and the shutdown would be given soon.
The discom, however, didn’t agree on the design suggested by them. The highways authority revisited their design and drafted a new proposal to resolve the deadlock.
Meanwhile, the shifting of two HT wire towers near Sector 36A coming in the alignment of another flyover of the Dwarka Expressway began on October 2 after the traffic diversion plan and permission to block the traffic was approved by the traffic police.
The towers are located along NH-8. To facilitate the shifting, traffic police created a traffic diversion plan and shared it on social media for the convenience of commuters.
The shifting began after HVPNL shut down the power lines. The shifting work is being carried out by NHAI and PGCIL. According to NHAI, the work is being carried out in phases. The two towers fall on the alignment of the cloverleaf flyover of Package 3 of the Dwarka Expressway, and their shifting will accelerate work on the flyover.
