TNPDCL to Insulate 500 km of Power Lines in Coimbatore Forests

18 May 2026 CW Team

A senior official of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) said the work had been planned across forest boundaries, but Line Clearance had not been granted during the election period, delaying progress. The official added that insulation work would begin next week, now that the elections were over. TNPDCL plans to insulate around 500 km of power lines in the Coimbatore district, with priority for critical corridors.

Lines will be covered with full?length extruded silicone rubber sleeves supplied in reels and installed in a flat format so the edges lock together to form a circular cover over the conductor. Installation involves dispensing silicone sealant into the lock and pressing the ends to seal the sleeve, a procedure that reduces wildlife?related outages and improves system reliability. The measure is especially suited to areas with frequent elephant movement.

TNPDCL completed a trial insulation of 18 km on the Kallar feeder near Mettupalayam in the North Circle, which contains a major elephant corridor, and carried out similar trials on one feeder in each circle. The authority will expand the trials to other feeders and mobilise teams to cover the remaining stretches. The distribution company is also installing Molded Case Circuit Breakers (MCCBs) along forest boundaries and in movement corridors so that circuits trip rapidly when faults occur, reducing the risk of electrocution.

In the Coimbatore South and Udumalpet circles the focus includes securing lines against falling coconut trunks in agricultural areas such as Negamam, Pollachi and Udumalpet. Fencing around transformers has been installed in Valparai, and similar safeguards are being planned for other forest boundaries in the region.

Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation (TNPDCL) in the Coimbatore region has begun assessing low?lying power lines that run through forest areas as part of a rectification drive to prevent electrocution of elephants and other wildlife. The initiative was intensified after a male wild elephant was electrocuted in a private farm near Mathampatty in the Madukkarai forest range. The programme focuses on lines along forest boundaries adjacent to the Western Ghats. A senior official of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) said the work had been planned across forest boundaries, but Line Clearance had not been granted during the election period, delaying progress. The official added that insulation work would begin next week, now that the elections were over. TNPDCL plans to insulate around 500 km of power lines in the Coimbatore district, with priority for critical corridors. Lines will be covered with full?length extruded silicone rubber sleeves supplied in reels and installed in a flat format so the edges lock together to form a circular cover over the conductor. Installation involves dispensing silicone sealant into the lock and pressing the ends to seal the sleeve, a procedure that reduces wildlife?related outages and improves system reliability. The measure is especially suited to areas with frequent elephant movement. TNPDCL completed a trial insulation of 18 km on the Kallar feeder near Mettupalayam in the North Circle, which contains a major elephant corridor, and carried out similar trials on one feeder in each circle. The authority will expand the trials to other feeders and mobilise teams to cover the remaining stretches. The distribution company is also installing Molded Case Circuit Breakers (MCCBs) along forest boundaries and in movement corridors so that circuits trip rapidly when faults occur, reducing the risk of electrocution. In the Coimbatore South and Udumalpet circles the focus includes securing lines against falling coconut trunks in agricultural areas such as Negamam, Pollachi and Udumalpet. Fencing around transformers has been installed in Valparai, and similar safeguards are being planned for other forest boundaries in the region.

Infrastructure Urban

15 Jun 2026

Modi Launches Rs 29,700 Mn Development Push In Daman

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated, dedicated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth around Rs 29,700 mn in Daman during a visit that formed the second leg of his regional engagements on June five, 2026. The package covers healthcare, civil aviation, tourism, connectivity, infrastructure and public welfare and was presented by the Prime Minister's Office as part of efforts to strengthen public services and regional economies. The announcements followed earlier engagements in Surat, where projects worth around Rs 188,000 million were launched. A key inauguration was the..

Infrastructure Energy

15 Jun 2026

Rajasthan Sees Rs 150 bn Investment Momentum

Rajasthan has recorded Rs 150 billion (bn) in realised investments in its mining and petroleum sectors, with projects worth Rs 330 bn under execution, according to the state administration. The report indicated that the surge is driven by major industrial and infrastructure schemes that have reached advanced stages. Officials noted that prominent projects have already moved to operations or are approaching completion, reinforcing the state as an attractive destination for large-scale investment. Among the headline projects, UltraTech Cement has commissioned a plant valued at Rs 22.3 bn while H..

Infrastructure Urban

15 Jun 2026

Vedanta Readies 5.2 Billion Refinancing After Upgrades

Vedanta is preparing a refinancing package totalling 5.2 billion dollars (bn) after recent credit rating upgrades, and has engaged financial advisers and banks to structure the transaction. The move follows upgrades that have improved access to capital markets and narrowed funding costs, enabling the group to pursue longer-dated financing. The company is targeting the refinancing to replace near-term maturities and to harmonise the debt profile across its diversified mining and metals businesses. The refinancing exercise is structured to include a mix of term loans, bonds and bilateral facilit..