With rapid urbanisation, the limitations of traditional overhead cabling are becoming more apparent. Dense urban areas offer limited space, and exposed lines are vulnerable to weather-related outages and safety hazards. To overcome these issues, underground cabling is gaining prominence as a practical alternative. By placing cables below the surface, distribution utilities can deliver more reliable electricity, ensure public safety and eliminate visual clutter. It also makes network expansion in congested or environmentally sensitive areas easier, where securing right of way (RoW) for overhead lines is often difficult.
Benefits
Underground cabling provides a safer alternative in disaster-prone regions, as cables are protected from extreme weather events such as storms, cyclones or lightning. This helps ensure a continuous power supply for critical services such as hospitals, transport and water supply systems. In 2021, a task force set up by the Ministry of Power even recommended undergrounding 33 kV and 11 kV lines in coastal belts up to 60 km from the shoreline to improve disaster resilience.
Additionally, underground cabling enhances public safety by eliminating risks of electrocution, short circuits and fires from exposed conductors. For discoms, it helps curb aggregate technical and commercial losses as it prevents power theft, minimises transmission and distribution losses, guards against mechanical injury and moisture, and requires lower maintenance in initial years.
Recent developments
Large-scale underground cabling works are under way in various states across the country. Delhi recently launched its first underground cabling pilot project in Shalimar Bagh. The project involves replacing 5 km of high-tension (HT) and low-tension (LT) overhead lines with 10 km of 440 V LT and 1.2 km of 11 kV HT underground cables. In Tamil Nadu, the 2.6 km stretch surrounding the Arunachaleswara temple in Tiruvannamalai is nearing completion to enhance pilgrim safety during festive seasons.
In Bangalore, under Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited’s (BESCOM) underground cabling project, 7,367 km of HT and 6,708 km of LT underground cables were added to the network between July 2019 and July 2025. The project has contributed to a reduction in BESCOM’s distribution losses from 12.27 per cent in 2019-20 to 8.44 per cent in 2024-25.
In August 2025, Telangana launched a Rs 135 billion underground cabling programme to replace nearly 25,000 km of overhead lines with underground cables across the core urban region. The initiative is expected to yield annual cost savings of Rs 5 billion through reduced losses, theft and upkeep.
Coastal states are adopting undergrounding as part of their climate- and disaster-resilience strategies. Odisha is planning selective undergrounding within 30 km of the coastline, following recommendations from the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. Similarly, Kerala aims to convert 25 per cent of its distribution network to underground cables or covered conductors to reduce climate-related outages.
States are also signing large contracts to accelerate implementation. In Gujarat, Rajesh Power Services signed multiple MoUs worth Rs 47.54 billion in October 2025 for converting HT overhead lines into underground networks across the state. In Mumbai, Adani Energy Solutions Limited is progressing with the 50 km underground segment of its 80 km HVDC transmission project, scheduled for commissioning by early 2026.
Meanwhile, in Andhra Pradesh, the government plans to fully remove electric poles in Visakhapatnam by December 2026. Following the successful completion of Phase I, Phase II has been launched under Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, covering 876 km of 33 kV and 11 kV underground lines at a cost of Rs 9.73 billion.
Challenges and outlook
Underground cabling typically costs three to four times more than overhead lines and requires multiple administrative approvals, which can delay project timelines. In busy commercial zones, narrow lanes and heavy footfall add further complexity. Cables also require careful routing around existing underground infrastructure like water and gas pipelines. Once installed, faults are harder to locate and repairs take longer. Underground cables also cannot be uprated, and voltage levels cannot exceed 66 kV because of insulation difficulties, unlike overhead systems that can operate at 400 kV or higher.
However, recent technological advancements such as internet of things (IoT)-based sensors are allowing real-time monitoring of cable parameters such as temperature, current and voltage, helping utilities detect anomalies early and prevent prolonged outages. Delhi’s pilot project is already using automated fault detection and IoT sensors to streamline maintenance. As these innovations scale, underground cabling is expected to offer unmatched long-term gains that justify the investment in the technology.