Tamil Nadu will construct 231 new substations at a cost of $Rs 15,032 crore has been allocated to augment electricity infrastructure in the state, the government said on Tuesday.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, who chaired a review meeting of the power department in the Secretariat, issued major directions including recruitment of 15,058 workers to address issues related to power supply and procurement of electricity-related materials to enhance capacity.
The move comes in the wake of recurring power outages that have plagued the state over the past few weeks, drawing sharp criticism from opposition parties, including the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
In an official statement, the government asserted that there is no power shortage in the state, as power generation and electricity procurement across Tamil Nadu has been sufficient.
“However, localized and occasional power outages are occurring at a few places in urban areas, including Chennai. This is due to obsolescence of distribution transformers, faults in underground cables, increased electricity consumption, maintenance work and unexpected damage to power cables during road excavation works by various other service departments,” the statement said.
To find a lasting solution to these issues, the value of infrastructure development projects is approx $The government said that Rs 2,275 crore is scheduled to be implemented in Chennai alone.
Across the state, 121 new and upgraded substations are currently being constructed at cost $Rs 10,109 crore. Furthermore, plans have been drawn up to construct 231 new substations at an estimated cost $The statement said: Rs 15,032 crore.
Noting that the government is actively working to meet future electricity demand through renewable energy generation, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and new thermal power plants, the statement said: “The government is committed to providing high-quality, reliable and uninterrupted electricity to the people.”
During the meeting, the Prime Minister directed the officials to take immediate action on complaints related to power outages and correct them expeditiously.
He also ordered the formal recruitment of 15,058 electricians required to rectify power faults, immediate procurement of electricity-related materials and deployment of electricians on patrol duties.
Regarding Chennai, the Prime Minister directed that the existing 125 league teams should participate in continuous rounds.
These teams must immediately go to the sites from which complaints are received to carry out emergency repair work and repair faults. He also advised TANGEDCO (Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited) and its subsidiaries to work efficiently to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the public, the statement added.
Recently, Power Minister Nirmal Kumar blamed “deliberate sabotage” for frequent power outages in the city and suburbs, claiming that some people deliberately pulled fuses or caused power outages to incite public protest.
He added that officials are assessing the frequency and location of power outages to detect suspicious and recurring patterns that indicate “deliberate sabotage” rather than technical problems.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said the unannounced power outage, coupled with extreme summer temperatures soaring to 40 degrees Celsius, is causing widespread distress across Tamil Nadu and pushing the state into “darkness”.
He had criticized the Tamil Nadu government for failing to plan power generation, procurement and construction of new substations as demand surged during the summer.
The Central Electricity Board has estimated that electricity demand in Tamil Nadu will reach 23,013 MW in 2026-27, highlighting the dire need for adequate infrastructure.
