Work starts on Walled City underground power system

LAHORE
The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) has started removing high and low tension electricity cables and transformers from the Royal Trail (Delhi Gate to Chowk Kotwali) for an underground electricity cable system in the congested area.
The WCLA officials said the entire electricity system on Royal Trail has been taken underground and transformers from Delhi Gate, Gurh Mandi, Akbari Mandi, Dina Nath Well and Wazir Khan Chowk have been removed. They said transformers from Chowk Purani Kotwali will be removed in couple of days.
A massive transformers removing operation was carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, which will give a new look to the Royal Trail. The officials said the Royal Trail will be a tourist trail and also a model trail, which will be replicated in other parts of the Walled City. The next step is to move on from Kotwali Chowk to Masti Gate.
The officials said the old electricity meters are also being replaced with latest meters, which have been implemented for the first time in Pakistan. The underground electricity system is the first model available in Pakistan, said Tanya Qureshi, a senior official of WCLA while talking to The News.
This system would ensure that there is no loss of electricity, electricity theft, unpleasant incidents, and safety is high profile. The Royal Trail from Delhi Gate to Chowk Kotwali will be free of hanging wires and electricity poles.
The Walled City authority has restored the 1st phase of the Royal Trail project which is from Delhi Gate to Chowk Purani Kotwali. The facades and infrastructure services have already been improved and restored. The electricity has been taken underground and facades of 800 properties have been restored to their original face. The high tension and low tension wire poles erected at various points on the Royal Trail are being removed. This is the last completion phase of the project.
Tanya said initially the electricity cables were being energised with a grid station after which almost 13 transformers would be energized. Each transformer is supplying electricity to low tension wires in each street. Each home has been connected with ABC (Aerial Bundle Cable) which has been imported from Sri Lanka.
After load shifting to the new electricity cables and transformers, the low tension wire poles have been removed. Removal of high tension poles is already in operation and three different sub divisions are involved in the process of shifting high tension poles, which will be completed during the next week.
New electricity meters have been used at the Royal Trail which is for the first time in Pakistan. Overhead cables from 58 streets have been removed. Total electricity has been brought underground.
Kamran Lashari, WCLA Director General, said the beauty of the Walled City was overshadowed with these ugly looking hanging wires. “We have tested this model of underground electricity in the first phase and have experienced a new look of this part of the city,” he added. “We are trying our best to restore it to its original glory. We will be exercising the same model in other parts of the Walled City very soon as we are heading forward from Chowk Kotwali to Masti Gate which is the package 2 , 3 and 4 of Royal Trail,” Lashari said.
Shahid Durrani (WCLA Director Infrastructure and Engineering) said the new electricity meters have been used at the Royal Trail which is for the first time in Pakistan. The Royal Trail from Delhi Gate to Chowk Kotwali will be free of hanging wires and electricity poles in a week’s time, he said, adding almost 20 low tension HT poles have been removed from the site and poles will be removed in a week’s time.
Asim Sajjad, WCLA Senior Electrical Engineer, said the engineering wing had conducted the underground electric cable test before energising the new system. Earthing systems were being tested to check the required capacity as per Wapda standards. Overhead cables from 58 streets have been removed. Total electricity has been brought underground.
Shabbar Raza, a local resident of Royal Trail, said majority of locals are happy that the health and safety measures for the residents are being improved by the WCLA. “Our children were endangered by these hanging wires. Now we are safe. Our streets look clean and we feel as if we are living in the past, but with modern facilities,” he said.
Nisa Begum, another resident, said this place is gaining value among tourists and visitors and residents are feeling happy to be a part of the Walled City. “People were moving out of the Walled City to other parts of Lahore, I hope this shifting will slow now. These wires were a serious threat in monsoon and rains otherwise. I am grateful to WCLA for their efforts,” she said.