Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu distributes Pattadar passbook to a woman farmer during Mee Bhumi-Mee Hakku programme at Panduvaripeta village of Ambajipeta Mandal in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district on Wednesday.

| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the ₹240-crore Konaseema Power Grid modernisation project at Machavaram village in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district’s Ambajipeta mandal, aimed at overhauling the power distribution network across the district and meeting surging electricity demands in the future.Speaking at the launch during the “Mee Bhoomi, Mee Hakku” gram sabha, Eastern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh (APEPDCL) Chairman and Managing Director Prithvi Tej Immadi briefed the Chief Minister on the region’s infrastructure challenges. He noted that decades-old distribution systems in the predominantly rural Konaseema region have faced mounting stress due to rising consumption.To bridge existing gaps, APEPDCL has already invested ₹250 crore over the past two years to construct eight new 33/11 KV substations, upgrade transformer capacities, and execute feeder segregation work under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme. However, with only about 50% of transformers operating on a three-phase system in Konaseema compared to 80% in neighbouring Kakinada and Rajamahendravaram, a permanent solution was deemed essential.The newly launched ₹240-crore modernisation project targets comprehensive upgrades across six Assembly constituencies and 19 mandals, directly benefiting over 2.37 lakh consumers.Key interventions include upgrading 742 circuit kilometres of 6.3 KV HT networks to 11 KV, converting 1,434 circuit kilometres of single-phase LT lines to three-phase, replacing 4,696 overloaded distribution transformers, and laying 524 circuit kilometres of aerial bunched cables.Additionally, the upcoming 400/132 KV Ainavilli substation by APTransco will reduce transmission distances and voltage fluctuations. Officials expect the project to future-proof the region for rising household appliance usage, electric vehicles, and rooftop solar adoption, eventually pushing consumer satisfaction up to 80%. Published - September 09, 2026 08:38 pm IST