Reliance Energy to provide 26,250 new electric connections in Mumbai

Reliance Energy, a part of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, today launched a pilot project which would provide up to 26,250 new and upgraded electricity connections for residents of Shivajinagar in Mumbai.

The company plans to connect about 8,000-12,000 new connections and 5,000 upgraded connections during the first phase work. The first phase work is expected to be completed within 18-months.

The project is a collaborative effort between the International Copper Promotion Council India, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the World Bank-administered Global Partnership for Output-Based Aid (GPOBA) and Reliance Infrastructure Limited.

The project benefits from $1.65-million grant from the Global Partnership for Output-Based Aid towards wiring costs faced by slum dwellers. The objectives of the project are to develop, test and evaluate customised approaches to improve electricity access, reduce losses and normalise services in slum areas for wide-scale implementation. 

The company will initiate activities pertaining to the development of power distribution infrastructure in a planned and systematic way. This would include several initiatives like laying down new distribution network, installing electricity meters to ensure authorised and metered power supply, etc.

Reliance Energy joined hands with the World Bank to develop world-class power infrastructure in the unorganised developments in its licensed distribution area in suburban Mumbai in May this year.

"Mumbai has over six-million slum dwellers, a large number of whom do not have access to legal electricty. This initiative, when completed, is expected to benefit more than 26,000 households in the area," a Reliance spokesperson told reporters here.

Reliance Energy caters to the power demand of around 1,500 MW and distributes more than 10,000-million units to its 27-lakh consumers.