Salasar Techno Engineering Ltd has begun executing a ₹134.51 crore contract to deliver a multi-site 110 kV air-insulated substation (AIS) package in Puducherry, the company and contract documents show. The project was awarded by the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) under its consultancy arrangement with the Electricity Department, Puducherry (PED).
Scope and equipment
The package covers construction of two new 110/22 kV substations at Thirubuvanai and Thavalakuppam, augmentation works at the existing 110/22 kV Villianur substation, and redeployment of released transformers to Thethampakkam and Kalapet. Salasar will handle design, engineering, supply, erection, testing and commissioning for all components of the assignment.
As part of the contract, the company will supply five outdoor power transformers of 25 MVA, 110/22 kV rating — collectively adding 125 MVA of transformation capacity to the regional network. The redeployment of released units from the Thirubuvanai site is intended to make more efficient use of existing assets rather than scrapping them.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Contract value | ₹134.51 crore |
| Transformer supply | 5 × 25 MVA (110/22 kV) — total 125 MVA |
| New substations | Thirubuvanai, Thavalakuppam |
| Augmentation | Villianur 110/22 kV |
| Redeployment sites | Thethampakkam, Kalapet |
Intended grid benefits
According to the project brief, once the works are completed and the substations are interconnected, the network is expected to exhibit a stronger pooling effect. That should improve voltage profiles and foster resilience against outages as demand increases with urbanisation and commercial activity in the Union Territory.
Officials involved in planning have framed the assignment as addressing both immediate reliability concerns and future load growth. The project footprint — covering Thavalakuppam, Thirubuvanai, Thethampakkam, Kalapet and Villianur — targets a mix of residential, industrial and coastal settlements that have seen rising electricity consumption.
Company perspective and local context
Salasar’s Managing Director Shashank Agarwal described the award as furthering the company’s presence in Puducherry and enhancing its credentials in high-voltage transmission and distribution works. He said the contract represents an important multi-site delivery for the firm.
"Delivering this multi-site 110 kV substation package for PGCIL is another important step in deepening Salasar’s presence in Puducherry and strengthening our credentials in high-voltage transmission and distribution infrastructure," Mr Agarwal said.
The works form part of broader infrastructure measures linked with the Union Territory’s Smart City Mission and power-sector planning. Strengthened substation capacity can both reduce technical losses and create headroom for planned urban development and tourism-related growth, planners noted in background documents.
What this means for consumers and stakeholders
- Improved reliability and power quality across the areas served by the upgraded and new substations.
- Additional transformation capacity — 125 MVA — to cater to near-term load growth.
- Efficient reuse of existing transformers through redeployment, reducing procurement lead times for some nodes.
For the Electricity Department, timely completion and commissioning will be critical to realise the projected benefits. The contractor is responsible for end-to-end delivery including testing and handover, and any delays in supply or civil works could affect the schedule.
Local residents and businesses in the named areas can expect phased construction activity and possible short-duration outages during commissioning exercises. The PED typically issues consumer advisories ahead of planned outages; customers are advised to follow official communications for specific timeframes.
The contract illustrates continuing investment in transmission and distribution infrastructure in smaller Union Territories, where upgrades are often needed to match rising demand driven by tourism, small-scale industry and urban expansion. The execution timeline and commissioning dates were not disclosed in the contract summary made available publicly.
