Bhubaneswar, July 20: The Odisha government has started planning to replace overhead electricity distribution lines with underground cables in a major effort to strengthen the state's power infrastructure against natural disasters.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the department has developed a special framework for the project and instructed the Energy Department to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) without delay.

The DPR will be sent to the Central government to seek financial and technical support for the proposed initiative, he said.

The decision follows repeated damage to Odisha's power infrastructure during cyclones, floods and other extreme weather events. According to the government, the Energy Department incurs significant losses whenever disasters strike, as electricity poles are damaged and overhead power lines are snapped, resulting in prolonged power outages in affected regions.

To address these challenges, the government plans to gradually shift to an underground power distribution network, which is expected to improve the resilience of the electricity system and enable quicker restoration of power after disasters.

Since electricity distribution in Odisha is handled by private utilities, the state government has also held discussions with TATA Power regarding the proposed transition.

Pujari said the project is being treated as a priority to ensure long-term benefits for consumers while enhancing the reliability and durability of the state's power distribution network.

The minister said the Revenue Department has already provided nearly Rs 1,200 crore to the Energy Department over the years to cover disaster-related losses. It has also extended substantial financial assistance to the Panchayati Raj Department, the Works Department and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for restoration and infrastructure development following natural calamities.

He further noted that Odisha has received financial assistance from the World Bank in the form of loans and grants to support post-disaster reconstruction and strengthen critical infrastructure across the state.