CM reviews PTCUL Projects, orders zero tolerance on power losses, theft

my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 12 Feb: A comprehensive review meeting of the Power Transmission Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited (PTCUL) was held at the Secretariat under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami here today. During the review meeting, detailed deliberations were undertaken on the progress of ongoing and proposed energy projects in the State. The meeting also discussed in depth the achievements of major projects completed in recent years, the status of Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded and non-Asian Development Bank (Non ADB) funded ongoing schemes, projects inaugurated by the CM, the works related to CM’s announcements and the schemes financed by the Rural Electrification Corporation and the Power Finance Corporation.
In addition, extensive discussions were also held on key issues concerning additional equity contribution for the financial year 2025–26 under the State Sector and SASCI, the year-wise equity requirement for proposed projects, PTCUL’s resource adequacy plan and master plan, financial requirements under the disaster relief head for compensation, and the need for adequate human resources to ensure timely execution of works.
Adopting a firm stance on strengthening the power system, Dhami issued clear instructions to the PTCUL officials to minimise power distribution losses and enforce strict action to curb electricity theft. He directed that negligence in controlling distribution losses would not be tolerated and that accountability must be ensured at every level. In view of the forthcoming summer season, Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL), PTCUL and Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) were instructed to make all the necessary preparations in advance and complete all the formalities by March and present the projects for inauguration by April.
Emphasising transparency and constructive utilisation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds, the CM directed that a separate account be opened for CSR funds to ensure their maximum and creative use for social welfare initiatives. He also directed expeditious disposal of the cases related to ADB funded substations in various districts in order to accelerate project implementation. Under the second phase of ADB funded schemes, district officials concerned were directed to complete land allocation and transfer processes within one week for substations proposed at Bahadarabad in Haridwar, Kotdwar in Pauri, Bhikiyasain in Almora, Kapkot in Bageshwar and Nandprayag in Chamoli. Stressing time-bound execution of the projects, he called for continuous monitoring and effective progress of all the projects inaugurated under the CM’s announcements so that they are completed without delay.
During the meeting, PTCUL’s achievements and financial strengthening over the past four years, were shared by MD PC Dhyani. He stated that the Rural Electrification Corporation has upgraded PTCUL’s credit rating from A+ to A++, which would result in an additional interest rebate of 0.5 per cent on loans availed for project implementation. This financial benefit, he said, would ultimately accrue to electricity consumers in the State in the form of reduced tariffs. He further shared that PTCUL has been honoured with the “Power Line Trans Tech India Award–2025” by the internationally reputed Power Line magazine for outstanding performance in the transmission sector and for achieving minimal line losses during the financial year 2024–25.
It was also asserted that due to efficient management and sustained growth in profits, PTCUL has paid a dividend of Rs 1,243 crores to the Uttarakhand Government in the financial year 2024–25, which is the highest dividend ever paid by the corporation. Over the past four years, a total of 22 projects have been completed, of which 12 relate to capacity augmentation.
Considerable progress has also been recorded in ADB and Non ADB funded projects. At present, ADB supported 220 kV and 120 kV substations are under execution at Manglaur, Selaqui, Araghar, Khatima, Dhaulkhera, Lohaghat and Sarvarkhera. In addition, Non ADB funded 400 kV, 220 kV and 132 kV substations are progressing at Pipalkoti, Ghansali, Banbasa, Ranihat, Rishikesh, Ultratech and Simli.
Among those present at the meeting were Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Principal Secretaries RK Sudhanshu and R Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretaries Pankaj Pandey, C Ravi Shankar, Dr BVRC Purushottam and Vinay Shankar Pandey, MD of UJVNL Dr Sandeep Singhal, MD of UPCL Anil Kumar, along with other senior officials concerned.