The Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) will soon begin work on setting up electricity substations of varying capacities to improve distribution network in the city and the neighbouring districts of Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and Kancheepuram.
With Chennai’s power demand having crossed the previous peak of 5,000 mega watt (MW) for the first time this year, the residents have been complaining of power disruptions in various parts of the city.
The White Paper, presented by Minister for Energy Resources C.T.R. Nirmalkumar recently, had blamed the power disruptions, particularly in the city, on the failure to commission new substations of 230-kilo volt (KV) as well as the 110- and 33-KV ones to replace the old substations on the distribution side.
A senior official of the TNPDCL said Chennai city, along with its three neighbouring districts, had been witnessing sustained growth in residential, commercial properties, and industries, increasing the power demand to an all-time high of 5,000 MW.
The official added that while the overall power availability remained adequate, localised interruptions continued to arise due to network constraints, overloading of transformers and feeders during evening peak hours, an ageing infrastructure, inadequate source redundancy, and underground cable failures.
The TNPDCL, along with the Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation (Tantransco), had proposed to establish a total of 34 substations of various capacities in both the Chennai North Circle, which covers Tiruvallur, and South Circle, which covers Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu. The 34 substations would be established at a total cost of ₹3,214 crore within this financial year.
The official said that a total of 13 substations would be established in the North Circle and 21 in the South Circle.
New substations have been proposed at Ennore, Kanagavallipuram of Tiruvallur, Perambur Barracks Road, Perumcherry, Thirumazhisai Industrial Estate, Egmore, and Medavakkam. In Medavakkam, a 110/11-KV substation would be set up on the multi-storey apartment site at Puravankara, he said.
The TNPDCL has also set a road map for the burgeoning residential corridor along the GST Road for establishing a 400/230/110-KV substation.
Similarly, substations are proposed to be constructed in Ambattur, Selavoyal, Vanagaram, Nolambur, Thalambur, Irumbuliyur, Manapakkam, Vengal, and Sunnambu Kolathur on the Thoraipakkam-Pallavaram Radial Road.
T. Ashok, a resident of Perumbakkam, said that with the Metro line coming on the Sholinganallur-Medavakkam stretch, power transmission had to be improved to prevent low voltage and power disruptions.
Published - July 09, 2026 12:53 am IST