Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for a ₹1,647 crore 420/220 kV grid substation at Uchhabali in Keonjhar’s Barbil region, marking a major step towards strengthening the state’s power infrastructure.
The project, launched on the birth anniversary of Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das, is part of a broader roadmap to transform Keonjhar into a key industrial hub. The Chief Minister said the district would be developed as the “second Jamshedpur of eastern India.”
Alongside the substation, five new transmission lines were also inaugurated. According to an official release, the project is expected to provide uninterrupted power supply to around 7.17 lakh consumers across Keonjhar Sadar, Telkoi, Jhumpura, Joda and Barbil regions.
Emphasising the importance of reliable electricity, Majhi said quality power supply is essential for a developed society and reiterated the government’s commitment to turning mineral-rich Keonjhar into a “prosperous district.”
The project will integrate the region into a stronger transmission network through 400 kV LILO lines and connectivity with TTPS-Joda and Turumunga-Rairangpur lines, ensuring balance between industrial and domestic demand.
In a key announcement, the Chief Minister introduced “hotline maintenance”, under which repair work can be carried out without interrupting power supply. “There will be no need for power cuts during maintenance,” he said.
He also emphasised the shift towards smart power management, stating that the new State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC) at Mancheswar will act as the central control system. Under the STAMS initiative, around 70 grids will be monitored remotely for faster fault detection and resolution.
Providing a broader outlook, Majhi said Odisha’s electricity consumer base has grown from 16 lakh in 2000 to nearly one crore today. To meet rising demand, the state plans to establish 34 new grid substations by 2036, including 765 kV grids in Bhubaneswar, Jajpur, Jharsuguda and Gajapati.
Reaffirming his commitment to the district, the Chief Minister said Keonjhar’s development remains a priority and highlighted future industrial prospects, including a proposed electrical steel plant by Japan’s JFE Steel.
Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo said the project would strengthen power supply not only in Keonjhar but also in adjoining regions such as Sundargarh and Angul, while efforts are underway to expand electricity access to remaining underserved areas.
