The project for the renovation of the cyclone ravaged 220 KV Double Circuit line between Pandiabili to Samagara had been accorded a special status, as it was conceived on totally different design considerations, guaranteeing a fool proof restoration of the Tower Line, and durability against similar severe cyclones in the future. For this very prestigious project, that not only needed special execution skills, but also designing expertise, EMPOWERTRANS was singled out by POWERGRID, resulting in another feather in the cap for EMPOWRTRANS.

To recapitulate, the original line was a dedicated line to Puri, and constructed by the Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (OPTCL) only a few years back. When the Super Cyclone FANI hit the Odisha coast during the 1st week of May 2019, it wiped off the entire tower line. Stubs with foundations were uprooted, almost all towers were twisted out of shape and there were multiple snapping of conductors along with related hardware. These failures took place over the entire length of 26 KM and included special crossing locations also.

The main reason for the cyclone calamity was that the wind pressure experienced during FANI was about 300 kg/ sqm, which is more than the prescribed pressure as stipulated in the relevant, IS code of practice for design of transmission towers for coastal zones (ZONE 5).

Considering the importance of this line, and the magnitude of failure due to FANI, the Govt. of Odisha and OPTCL decided to reconstruct the total line under the direct supervision of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, based on revised design parameters, suitable for ZONE 6, with higher wind pressure conditions.

This would also be the first of its kind in the state and also a first for PGCIL. It has entailed designing and prototype testing of towers, suitable for Zone 6 conditions. Once this specially designed line gets commissioned successfully, the same arrangement can be replicated for other cyclone prone areas also.