*KPTCL Powers Newly Electrified Western Ghats Rail Route*: *Robust Infrastructure for 12 Railway Traction Substations-K.J. George*
Pragativahini News: With the Sakaleshpur–Subrahmanya Road section in the Western Ghats newly electrified, Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) has developed robust transmission infrastructure to provide reliable traction power for electric train operations on the route, Energy and Tourism Minister Shri K.J. George said.
The Yeshwantpur–Mangaluru–Madgaon Vande Bharat Express, scheduled to commence operations on November 13, will be the first Vande Bharat service to operate through the newly electrified Western Ghats section.
To ensure that the traction-power infrastructure required for the route was implemented in a time-bound manner, Energy Minister K.J. George held a series of review meetings and activated a coordination mechanism involving KPTCL, Railways and other concerned officials. Under his guidance, works relating to transmission network strengthening, substation capacity augmentation and power connectivity to Railway Traction Substations were prioritised and taken up in phases.
Executing traction-power infrastructure in the Western Ghats posed major engineering challenges due to steep gradients, difficult terrain, heavy rainfall and complex geographical conditions. Despite these constraints, KPTCL engineers and technical personnel worked continuously to put in place the required transmission connectivity, grid strengthening and power-supply systems.
Power supply arrangements have been made for 12 Railway Traction Substations (RTSS) through 12 KPTCL substations, involving new overhead transmission lines, underground cables, LILO connectivity, switching stations and upstream transformer capacity augmentation.
“Providing continuous and reliable traction power to a newly electrified rail corridor through a difficult terrain such as the Western Ghats is a major technical responsibility. KPTCL teams have worked under challenging conditions to put the necessary transmission infrastructure in place. Their technical expertise, commitment and coordinated efforts deserve appreciation,” Minister K.J. George said.
“The new rail connectivity will make travel between Bengaluru and coastal Karnataka more convenient and will create fresh opportunities for tourism, hospitality and local economic activity in destinations such as Mangaluru, Udupi, Murudeshwar and Gokarna,” he added.
Following the Minister’s directions, KPTCL Managing Director Dr. V. Ram Prasath Manohar, IAS, held a special preparedness review with officials and directed them to ensure the operational readiness of all associated substations and transmission systems ahead of the commencement of Vande Bharat services.
“Transmission infrastructure has been developed in phases to ensure reliable traction power under the challenging conditions of the Western Ghats. During Vande Bharat operations, technical personnel will be deployed at key KPTCL substations and connection points for 24×7 monitoring,” Dr. Ram Prasath Manohar said.
“KPTCL teams have carried out significant work to provide the required upstream grid connectivity, substation capacity and transmission infrastructure for the 12 Railway Traction Substations. The efforts of our engineers, technical staff and management in executing these works in the ghat section are commendable,” he added.
Key Technical Contributions by KPTCL
- Power connectivity from 12 KPTCL substations to 12 Railway Traction Substations
- 4.5 km, 66 kV transmission line for Siddapura
- 220 kV underground and overhead transmission connectivity for Sakaleshpur RTSS
- 2.760 km, 220 kV underground cable for Neralekatte
- 110 kV transmission, LILO and switching infrastructure for Jokatte, Mulki, Barkur and Senapura
- 220/66 kV transformer capacity augmentation at Anchepalya and Yachenahalli substations
- Existing KPTCL network support for Murudeshwar, Kumta and Karwar RTSS
- 24×7 technical monitoring and emergency response arrangements during Vande Bharat operations
The launch of Vande Bharat on the newly electrified Western Ghats section marks a significant milestone in Karnataka’s rail connectivity, with KPTCL’s strengthened transmission network providing the critical power backbone required to support electric train operations across the challenging ghat terrain.
