Bescom begins shifting 71 ‘unsafe’ electric poles, transformers in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Bescom has taken up work to relocate at least 71 electric poles and transformers across the city that the traffic police had identified to be hazardous or impeding public movement.

The city’s traffic police routinely submit lists of identified hazards to civic agencies such as Bescom so that the latter can shift the structures to safer locations nearby.

Such structures are a safety concern on busy roads and thoroughfares, especially during the monsoon season, as they could lead to accidents and loss of limb and life, a senior police officer from the south division noted.

Accordingly, police found 44 poles and 27 transformers to be “hazardous” – 10 poles and four transformers in the south, 20 poles and 11 transformers in east, 14 poles and 10 transformers in the north and two transformers in the west zones.

Of these, the maximum number of such poles that could pose a danger to public movement were found in Indiranagar (9), followed by eight each in HSR Layout and Jalahalli. Ten of the 27 transformers deemed dangerous were in Whitefield, according to the police.

Bescom has completed work in 23 locations, shifting out 12 electric poles and 11 transformers to safer spots, such as the corner of a park or a CA site. In at least 11 locations, work is underway in identifying a suitable spot to shift out these poles and in 24 locations, Bescom has deemed the poles and transformers “non-hazardous”. 

Awaiting BBMP clearance 

A senior Bescom official who oversees technical work explained that some works are pending because permissions are awaited from the BBMP or the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) due to a 220 kV underground cable running below the structures. One of the poles that needs shifting in Jalahalli belongs to the Air Force, which the Bescom cannot interfere in, he said.

“If there are poles that appear to be leaning to one side, they are usually because the road height would have increased after multiple road repairs over the years and the ground under the pole would have sunken in. We transfer such poles to a more secure spot nearby after consulting with local BBMP officers,” said the official, adding that most of the shifting work occurs during routine inspections.

A senior traffic police officer notes, “Besides affecting people’s movement, other serious concerns include the pole crashing down due to an accident, wires snapping and falling on people, and electricity getting cut off. Ideally, all electric wiring should be underground or at least in CA sites with proper fencing and warnings”.