Banihal, Sep 14 (KNS): Power infrastructure in the Banihal-Gool area is being augmented through upgrades to receiving stations, construction of transmission lines and addition of transformation capacity, MLA Sajjad Shaheen said on Monday.

Shaheen was speaking ahead of the dedication of the Khari Receiving Station, whose capacity has been increased from 3.15 MVA to 6.3 MVA.

He said the augmentation of the Khari receiving station was part of power-sector works being undertaken to address capacity constraints in the constituency.

The Banihal Receiving Station has been augmented from 6.3 MVA to 10.6 MVA, while the Sangaldan Receiving Station has been upgraded from 3.15 MVA to 6.3 MVA. The newly installed transformer at Sangaldan is ready for dedication, he said.

Work is also underway on the Tethar-Banihal electricity line, while a new power line from Marog to Ramsu is being taken up to strengthen the existing network, Shaheen said.

He further said an additional 20 MVA transformer is proposed to be installed at the Tethar Grid Station, which would increase transformation capacity in the area after commissioning.

“These projects are being taken forward in phases.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe objective is to improve capacity and reliability and reduce power interruptions once the works are commissioned,” Shaheen said.

He said the priority was to complete the ongoing works and make the additional infrastructure operational.

Shaheen said the power works were part of development projects being taken up across Banihal-Gool during the past one-and-a-half years.

He said projects had been sanctioned in sectors including roads, healthcare, education, sports, tourism and public welfare, with some under execution and others at the tendering or implementation stage.

“Our focus is to ensure that development reaches every part of Banihal-Gool, particularly remote and far-flung areas,” he said.

Shaheen credited Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for the government's focus on remote areas and said the administration was working to address infrastructure deficiencies.

He said the objective was to complete long-pending projects and improve public services in the constituency.

Executive Engineers of PDD Ramban and STD Udhampur, AEEs, local party functionaries and residents were present on the occasion, according to a press release.(KNS)