Lucknow, Dec 3: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has said that it will provide loan of altogether 562.8 million USD, which is about Rs 4,143 crore, for power projects in Uttar Pradesh and Meghalaya. The ADB-funded Uttar Pradesh Power Distribution Network Rehabilitation Project is aimed at improving the quality and reliability of electricity supply in Uttar Pradesh.

 

The project involves conversion of 65,000 km of rural low-voltage distribution lines from bare conductors to aerial bundle conductors and construction of a parallel network of 11 kilo volt feeders to separate the distribution of electricity between residential consumers and agriculture consumers. Besides this, the Asian Development Bank has also signed 132.8 million USD loan agreement to improve the quality of power supplied to businesses, industries and households in the state of Meghalaya.

 

The project is expected to benefit 70 million people in more than 46,000 villages of Uttar Pradesh. The project is to finance the construction 11 KV feeders covering a total length of 17,000 km, which will eventually aid to separate the distribution of electricity between agriculture consumers and residential consumers. The project will improve corporate governance, gender inclusivity and financial management capacity of the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited.

 

The project will support 'Power for All' initiative of the central government. Under the project, the existing rural power distribution networks are to be upgraded to provide reliable supply to the consumers in rural Uttar Pradesh.

 

The state of Uttar Pradesh experiences power crisis, since the demand for electricity in the state exceeds it's supply. Therefore, the success of this project is crucial for Uttar Pradesh's overall development as well.