Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam (JBVNL) has intensified power maintenance across several parts of Ranchi ahead of Durga Puja, deploying teams to reduce faults and prepare the distribution network for higher electricity demand during the festival period.

Maintenance work is under way in Namkum, Dhurwa, Morabadi, Kokar, Doranda, Lalpur and Upper Bazar. The exercise covers bare-wire insulation, tightening loose cables, removal of tangled wires, transformer and feeder inspections, pole-connectivity repairs and cabling work, according to officials.

JBVNL general manager Manmohan Kumar said the programme formed part of the utility’s routine pre-Puja preparations but had been delayed by rain. The maintenance schedule runs from October 1 to 13, according to Gaurav Kumar, electrical executive engineer for Kokar.

The utility is also preparing for additional demand from Durga Puja pandals. Organisers seeking temporary electricity connections can apply during the maintenance period, with supplies of around 4 kW to 10 kW available depending on their load requirements. Officials said the work is intended to address faults before festival activity and crowd movement increase across the city.

The maintenance programme has caused power cuts in some areas, affecting businesses as customer activity rises ahead of the festive season. A trader in Lalpur said growing customer visits had coincided with outages that were disrupting operations. JBVNL is carrying out the distribution work in phases, focusing on exposed wires, loose connections, transformers, feeders and pole infrastructure while accommodating temporary connections for public celebrations. The programme is scheduled to continue through October 13.