JOIN USState-run Power Grid Corp plans to deploy helicopters for aerial patrolling of electricity transmission lines, a move aimed at checking their safety and security in the eventuality of natural disasters or sabotages. The plan has been under consideration for quite sometime.
The failure of power grids for two straight days last month impacted more than half of country's population.
Power Grid runs Northern, Eastern, North Eastern, Southern and Western electricity grids in
the country. In its 2011-12 annual report, the company said that it has state-of-the-art emergency restoration systems at strategic locations for restoration of collapsed transmission line towers in case of eventualities.
“Some potent options are also being explored like use of robotic technology for condition monitoring of conductor, earth-wire and hardwares besides aerial patrolling of transmission lines using helicopters,” the report said.