Gaya: With lakhs of pilgrims expected in Gaya for the Pitripaksh Mela from Sept 25 to Oct 10, the electricity department has stepped up preparations to ensure safe and uninterrupted power supply. Measures include replacing exposed wires, fencing transformers and upgrading their capacity.Sandeep Prakash, superintending engineer (SE), electricity supply circle, Gaya, said, “Seven control rooms would function round the clock in the mela area, with officials and the staff equipped with walkie-talkies deployed in three shifts for quick communication and prompt response to complaints”.He said tree branches along the Bengali Ashram-Vishnupad temple route had been pruned and hanging wires between Shahmir Takiya Mor and the temple were being organised. Around 9km of overhead bare wires have been replaced with covered AB cables, while open transformers are being barricaded.“Maintenance of all 33KV and 11KV feeders has been completed. The capacity of eight 200KVA transformers in the mela area is also being upgraded to 315KVA to meet the increased power demand during the pilgrimage season”.In the rural division, four transformers at Pretshila hill and in the mela area have been maintained. Fifteen new poles are being installed to strengthen supply to Pretshila and adjoining areas.“An additional 200KVA transformer has been installed at Sita Kund under Manpur division. Maintenance of the 11KV line, reconstruction of around 500 metres of the line and LT cabling have also been completed. All electricity poles in the mela area are also being painted with dielectric paint as a safety measure”, the SE said.
