LAHORE: A South Korean firm has been awarded a mega project of a 132kV underground transmission line that will be executed in Lahore under the supervision of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco).

The firm has been given a go-ahead by Lesco to launch preparatory works -- mapping, survey, route plan, Dawn has learnt.

The project worth over Rs800 million is the second of its kind in the provincial capital and is being executed under financial assistance of the Asian Development Bank, according to senior Lesco officials.

“It is a very important project to keep various grid stations operational without any problem. It will be the second source to keep Sunny View, McLeod Road and other grid stations working in case of a problem with source-1 -- the existing 132kV system,” Lesco Chief Executive Officer Syed Wajid Ali Kazmi told Dawn on Tuesday.

A 6km long underground transmission line will start from Sunny View and end at Qartaba Chowk via McLeod Road and other areas.

“A day before the Pakistan Super League final, a technical problem occurred in the existing 132kV transmission line, putting Lesco in trouble. But we succeeded in rectifying the fault and restoring electricity to many areas. Had the project in question been completed before, we could have avoided the trouble,” Mr Kazmi explained.

He said the Lesco administration had also sought a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Lahore Development Authority and other civic agencies for launching the project. The project was awarded to Korean firm, LS Group, through a transparent bidding process.

Talking about other projects, the Lesco chief said they had also installed a new 40MVA transformer at the Chah Meeran grid station through its own resources. A new Gas Insulated Substation grid station had also been constructed and will start operating within 15 days.

“This grid station will provide relief to Bhati and Rewaz Garden grid stations that are already overloaded. This project has also been completed under the ADB’s financial assistance,” he added.

The Lesco chief said another 132kV transmission line project from Sarfraz Nagar to Bhaipheru was planned to be launched soon and it will save the system from overloading.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2017