Discom U-turn on line shift leaves 2 Dwarka Expressway flyovers in limbo

Gurgaon: A last-minute U-turn by the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited (HVPNL) over shifting of 400kV high-tension (HT) power lines is delaying completion of two flyovers on the Dwarka Expressway. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) said the delay is leading to losses of around Rs 50 lakh daily and has sought immediate resolution of the matter.
In a letter to the managing director of HVPNL sent on September 10, NHAI stated that even after giving approval for shutdown of the power lines from September 7 to September 25 so that they can be shifted for the completion of a cloverleaf flyover and a trumpet flyover on the expressway, the discom hasn’t done it so far. The highways authority also reminded HVPNL of several commitments made and specifications agreed upon by it in 2017.
According to NHAI, the discom asked for the design specifications of the new HT towers on September 7, the very day the lines were to be shut down. NHAI and Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL), which is coordinating the shifting of the lines, claimed that they provided the technical clarifications sought the next day.
The highways authority had roped in PGCIL in 2017 to facilitate the shifting after HVPNL expressed its inability for carrying out the work. The shifting work began in January last year.
NHAI officials said it is only now that HVPNL objected to the technology used in the new HT towers being erected by PGCIL and NHAI, though updates were being given regularly in weekly review meetings with the discom since shifting began.
HVPNL, on its part, asserted that they will be accountable for operating and maintaining the HT towers that are being erected, so they need to follow the guidelines of their design team. While PGCIL claims to have used high temperature low sag (HTLS) conductors, which are more efficient, HVPNL wants to stick to the previous design of quad moose conductors. Discom officials said if any snaps happen due to the design difference, over 30% of the city will be pushed into a blackout. “Our assessment has revealed that there are performance issues with HTLS conductors. Moreover, our design team has categorically specified use of quad moose conductors,” said a senior HVNPL official.
Meanwhile, NHAI said the discom seems to be deliberately dragging its feet. “It appears as if they want to delay the project for reasons best known to them. They had nearly two years to discuss the issue of the technology being used, but they chose this time when the work is almost completed and all we need is the shutdown,” a senior NHAI official said.
“HVPNL officials don’t want to adapt to newer and better technologies and want to escape the process of training their ground staff, which may be required if the new conductors are installed,” the official added.
New sector residents have warned that they will stage protests if the state government fails to address the issue soon. “I’ll request Nitin Gadkari sir (the Union transport minister) to intervene and speak to the CM. All residents will be forced to stage large-scale protests if HVPNL doesn’t sort this out immediately,” said Prakhar Sahay, a homebuyer and former joint secretary of the Dwarka Expressway Welfare Association, a buyers’ body.