Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) will start physical work on taking overhead cables underground in the Dhanmondi area next month as part of its mega project to ensure safer transmission of electricity. “We’ve completed all our necessary preparation at a meeting today (Tuesday) to start the job in September”, said Bikash Dewan, managing director of the DPDC, a public limited company under the Power Division of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources. He said the distribution body is now waiting for the permission from Dhaka North City Corporation (DSCC) to dig the streets in the Dhanmondi area where the project will start on a pilot basis. Read Coronavirus Fallout: Underground cabling project faces delay “We hope we’ll get the permission soon as the DSCC mayor is very positive about our project,” he told UNB.     The Dhanmondi underground cabling project is part of the DPDC’s mega scheme for which the organization signed a contract with the Chinese contractor TBEA in September in 2019. Under the Dhanmondi project, 190 km of overhead electricity cables, an eyesore in the city, will be taken underground, DPDC officials said. Also read: Obnoxious overhead cables still dangling in Dhaka amid infighting Of these, about 115 km are of 11 kV overhead lines, and 75 km are 0.4 kV lines, they said adding that all kinds of overhead electric cables will go underground and no cable will remain visible in a particular part of Dhanmondi area that includes Satmasjid Road, Mirpur Road, City College and Greenherald School area.

A government move to generate solar power using the rooftops of Dhaka University buildings has made little headway even after two years.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday cleared five development projects, including a Tk 1454-crore one to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to clients under the DPDC areas in Dhaka and Narayanganj cities.

A ‘discriminatory’ condition in a procurement process will cost Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) an additional amount of Tk 270 crore if it picks the lowest bidder for the job.