DGVCL Intensifies Efforts to Modernize Power Infrastructure in South Gujarat
In Surat, Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (DGVCL) is ramping up initiatives to fortify its power distribution network, aiming to significantly enhance supply reliability across its service area. The utility is prioritizing key upgrades such as extensive underground cabling, expansion of grid automation systems, and the installation of safer overhead conductors. These measures are specifically designed to withstand harsh weather conditions, including cyclones, prevalent in the coastal regions of south Gujarat.
Major Infrastructure Upgrades Underway
As part of its aggressive modernization drive, DGVCL has successfully laid 6,906 kilometers of high-tension (HT) electricity lines underground. The company plans to add an additional 7,000 kilometers over the next two years, marking a substantial increase from previous phases. For context, underground HT cabling was merely 490 kilometers in 2005 and grew to 3,995 kilometers by 2012.
To further bolster reliability and fault management, DGVCL is accelerating the installation of Ring Main Units (RMUs). These units connect transformers to the grid, enabling the isolation of faulty sections while maintaining power supply through alternative feeders. This technology helps reduce the duration and spread of outages. The number of RMUs has surged from just five in 2005 to 1,698 currently, with a target to scale up to 8,610 units within two years.
Enhancing Safety with Covered Conductors
In addition to underground and automated systems, the utility is upgrading overhead distribution lines by replacing open conductors with Medium Voltage Covered Conductors (MVCC). This move aims to improve safety and minimize faults caused by external contact and environmental factors. The MVCC replacement initiative began in 2024, with 2,010 kilometers installed in the first year and another 6,019 kilometers added in 2025, bringing the total converted network to 8,029 kilometers.
M G Surti, chief engineer at DGVCL, emphasized the importance of these upgrades, stating, "No hybrid network ensures better power supply; hence, we are replacing conventional lines with covered conductors. This infrastructure will help maintain supply even during cyclones in coastal areas and ensure quality power."
Industrial Concerns Persist Despite Progress
Despite these extensive upgrades, industrial stakeholders report that power interruptions continue in some industrial pockets. They note that residential areas in the Diamond City have largely been spared frequent outages, highlighting a disparity in supply quality.
Vijay Mangukiya, president of the Surat Weavers' Association, commented, "There has been infrastructure development, but the quality of supply is yet to meet expectations. We look forward to completely uninterrupted power. We were told that some issues stem from transmission infrastructure under GETCO, which also needs strengthening."
This feedback underscores the ongoing challenges in achieving seamless power distribution, even as DGVCL pushes forward with its ambitious modernization plans to create a more resilient and reliable grid for south Gujarat.
