Gurgaon: NHAI plans tunnel to shift power cable underground near Iffco Chowk

The NHAI needs to take the power line underground for smooth construction of the elevated U-turns it is coming up with near the Iffco Chowk flyover

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said it will soon construct a duct or a tunnel of nearly 500 metres to take the high-transmission overhead power cables at Iffco Chowk underground. For the NHAI, taking the 220 kiloVolt (kV) lines underground is essential for smooth and uninterrupted construction of the elevated U-turn it is coming up with at the spot.

The NHAI will have to remove 12 electricity towers for construction of elevated U-turns at the Iffco Chowk flyover. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

The NHAI will have to remove 12 tall electricity towers that are on the left of the national highway (NH) 8 near Iffco Chowk while coming from Delhi to Gurgaon.

The Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN), which is the custodian authority of the high-transmission lines, has to give permission to the highways authority to shift the cables. The permission has been pending for a while, according to an NHAI official.

Anil Yadav, superintending engineer (SE), HVPN, Gurgaon, said, “We have sent the proposal to the headquarters and are hoping to get approval in a day or two. There are 12 towers that will be removed and the line will be placed underground through a duct. This is a major task and NHAI will execute the work.”

Once the U-turn is constructed, commuters coming from Sukhrali will have to take a left turn at Iffco Chowk and drive 300 metres to the Delhi side to take the U-turn and cross NH-8. The NHAI is constructing a similar elevated U-turn on the Gurgaon side of the flyover too.

“Due to the presence of the high-transmission cables, NHAI’s work on the U-turn (on Delhi side) has been disturbed for the past two months. We have spoken with the HVPN and are hoping for an approval letter soon. We have to remove 12 electricity towers and take the line underground. Once we get the nod, it will take three to four months to execute the work. Despite repeated reminders, the HVPN has delayed approval,” said Ashok Kumar Sharma, project director, NHAI, Gurgaon.