Bhubaneswar, April 10: In a move to address rising power demand in Odisha’s industrial heartland, the state Cabinet today approved the establishment of a high-capacity GIS (Gas Insulated Substation) at Basudevpur in Keonjhar district.
This project is set to become a cornerstone of the region’s power infrastructure, particularly for the mineral-rich Joda–Barbil–Palaspanga belt, where industries are expanding rapidly but facing severe electricity constraints.
The proposed sub-station will be a 2x500 MVA, 400/220/33 kV GIS facility—designed with advanced technology to ensure higher efficiency, reliability, and compactness compared to conventional substations. Its strategic location at Basudevpur is expected to ease the burden on the already saturated grid sub-stations at Barbil, Joda, and Palaspanga, all of which are currently operating at maximum capacity.
The project, approved based on a proposal by Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited, comes with an estimated investment of Rs. 1,647 crore. The funding model reflects a collaborative approach: the Government of Odisha will provide 30% equity support amounting to Rs. 494.10 crore, while OPTCL will mobilize the remaining 70%—Rs. 1,152.90 crore—through financial institutions and banks.
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The project will cater to the power requirements of upcoming industries in Keonjhar district and the adjoining Koida area of Sundargarh district. It will also strengthen the transmission network of the region and support further industrialization.
The composite project will be implemented over a period of three years from FY 2026-27 to FY 2028-29.
