After nearly a decade since it got administrative sanction (in 2018), work to construct ₹8.5 crore Tangedco 33/11 KV sub-station in Yelagiri Hills in Tirupattur district has commenced.

Officials of Tangedco, which executes the work, said that a new sub-station was a long-standing demand of residents in the hills. Of the total 5,286 consumers, 1,400 are commercial establishments, mostly hotels, restaurants, and resorts. “Power shutdowns and fluctuations have been common in hamlets in the hills. The new sub-station will end the ordeal of residents, especially students, who can study under better lights,” said G. Somu, a tribal.

Around 200 consumers are farmers. . “Civic works for the substation have commenced. Thereafter, installation of transformers, feeders, and other electrical equipment will be done. The new facility will be ready in 2027,” Rajan Murugesan, Assistant Engineer (AE), Tangedco (Yelagiri Hills), told The Hindu. 

At present, permanent sub-stations in Jawadhu Hills are located in Kavalur and Pudur Nadu village near Yelagiri Hills. The sub-station in Kavalur village was established in 1960s to operate Vainu Bappu Astronomical Observatory, which was relocated from Kodaikanal in 1968.

The Pudur Nadu substation was opened in 2020 after bifurcation from the Vaniyambadi power station.

Against this backdrop, Tangedco proposed to set up a sub-station at Yelagiri Hills mainly to promote domestic tourism as the hill station has more than 150 hotels and resorts. Initially, the project got its nod for a budget of ₹3.5 crore in 2018.

However, Tangedco officials said that project was halted since then before it was revived with a revised estimate of ₹8.5 crore in January 2026. A ceremony to lay the foundation stone was held in March. After polls, work to construct the new facility was expedited.

Bifurcated from the Vaniyambadi 110 KV sub-station in April 2022, the Tangedco office at Yelagiri Hills was functioning as a section office with meager staff. Daily power supply was monitored by officials at Vaniyambadi office, around 30 km away in the plains. It resulted in delay in attending complaints and repair of power lines on the route which is lined with forests.

Tangedco officials said that the new sub-station will help attend to power faults immediately. Power fluctuations will be prevented as power supply will be given directly from the sub-station in the hills. The new facility will lessen dependence on diesel-run generators in the hills and prevent pollution.