Pune, 17th April 2026: Amid rising electricity demand in the rapidly expanding cities of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, Minister of State for Energy Meghana Sakore-Bordikar has directed power authorities to prepare a comprehensive long-term electricity development plan to ensure uninterrupted supply and meet future needs.
Chairing a review meeting at Prakash Bhavan in Pune on Thursday, Bordikar said Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) and Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited (MSETCL) must work in close coordination with the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporations while preparing the roadmap. She also asked officials to seek assistance from local MLAs in acquiring land for new substations so that land-related hurdles can be resolved quickly.
The meeting was attended by PCMC Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, MLAs Bapusaheb Pathare, Shankar Jagtap, MLCs Yogesh Tilekar and Amit Gorakhe, along with senior officials of MSEDCL, MSETCL and civic bodies.
During the meeting, legislators raised the issue of underground electricity cabling and the high road excavation charges levied for such works. Officials said excavation fees were significantly higher than actual cable laying costs, resulting in much of the project budget being spent on permissions instead of infrastructure development. In Pimpri Chinchwad, permissions are granted at Rs 100 per metre subject to restoration of roads by MSEDCL. Power officials urged Pune Municipal Corporation to adopt a similar model, and the minister advised civic authorities to consider the proposal.
Officials said that more than 30 lakh electricity consumers fall within Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal limits, with the number steadily rising due to rapid urbanisation. Existing power lines are increasingly facing overload issues, resulting in technical faults and supply disruptions.
MSEDCL also proposed creation of dedicated underground utility ducts along roadsides to enable quicker replacement and repair of cables during breakdowns. Legislators supported the suggestion, calling it necessary from a Smart City perspective.
Reviewing ongoing projects, Bordikar directed officials to accelerate pending works and suggested that developers should reserve space for substations and feeder pillars while obtaining construction permissions. She also instructed authorities to resolve local issues without delay.
Several MLAs raised constituency-specific concerns, including demands for new substations, underground cabling in slum areas, and a new branch office at Mamurdi. Officials said the discussions were held in a constructive atmosphere.
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