The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Tuesday approved the revised cost estimate (RCE) of the Comprehensive Scheme for Strengthening of Transmission and Distribution in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim at an estimated cost of Rs 9129.32 crore.
The approval is expected to bring more economic development in the States of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim through the strengthening of Intra – State Transmission and Distribution systems.
The scheme is being implemented through POWERGRID (a public service undertaking) under the ministry of power in association with Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh government.
It is targeted to be commissioned in a phased manner by December 2021 for the awarded scope of works and 36 months from RCE approval for un-awarded packages.
After commissioning, the created transmission and distribution system will be owned and maintained by the respective state utilities, officials said.
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The main objective of the scheme is to strengthen the intra-state transmission and distribution infrastructure in the two states by providing grid connectivity to remote locations.
It will also create a reliable power grid and improve the states’ connectivity to the upcoming load centers, and thus extend the benefits of the grid connected power to villages and towns including the border areas and all categories of consumers of beneficiaries.
The scheme shall also increase the per capita power consumption of these states.
The scheme will also open up avenues of employment for youths of these two states.