Mangaluru: In a major infrastructure push, the state government has approved a ₹304 crore project to shift overhead power lines underground across Ullal, Kotekar and Someshwar urban local bodies, along with parts of the Mannagudda and Kavoor subdivisions in the city.

At present, underground cabling exists only in limited pockets such as State Bank and Jeppu. Announcing the project on Wednesday, Legislative Assembly Speaker UT Khader said tenders have been finalised and work orders issued in March. Ground surveys are set to begin shortly and are expected to take around three-and-a-half months.

The Ullal–Someshwar–Kotekar stretch will see the largest investment of ₹186.4 crore, covering 144.1 km of high-tension (HT) lines and 223.4 km of low-tension (LT) lines. In flood-prone areas like Uliya and Margathale, about 12 km of aerial bunched cables will be installed.

In the Mannagudda subdivision, works worth ₹67 crore will cover Kudroli, Bejai, KSRTC and Urva Stores, including 62.8 km of HT lines and 45.7 km of LT lines. Meanwhile, the Kavoor subdivision project, estimated at ₹51 crore, will focus on Airport Road and surrounding areas, with 47.4 km of HT and 48.7 km of LT lines planned.

All works will be executed simultaneously, with completion targeted within 24 months.

Khader noted that the project is designed to meet the region’s needs for the next 30–35 years. While underground cabling costs nearly double that of overhead systems, it offers multiple benefits—greater protection from extreme weather, improved safety, lower maintenance, better reliability, reduced power theft and enhanced urban aesthetics. The cables will be laid at a depth of 1.5 metres, followed by installation of modular streetlights.

Chairing a coordination meeting with officials from Mescom, NHAI, the public works department, Mangaluru City Corporation and the water supply department, Khader urged all agencies to ensure timely execution. He also appealed to residents to cooperate, noting that temporary inconvenience may arise during the works.

In addition, approval has been granted to upgrade the Ullal power station from 32 kV to 110 kV. Proposals are also in place to upgrade the Konaje station from 10 kV to 20 kV and to set up a new 20 kV station, for which one acre of land has been sought from Mangalore University. A similar upgrade is planned for the Kotekar power station.

Mescom Managing Director Jayakumar was present at the meeting.