n - 10 September, 2012 | Bangalore | BESCOM | Power Supply | Analysis | Transformers

BBMP in "league" with Bescom is replacing the big, ugly transformers with leaner ones.  Some snippets from ToI and Citizen Matters:

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has, in partnership with the Bangalore Electric Supply Company (Bescom), taken up a project to replace them with smaller transformers, reclaiming pedestrian space.

The plan is to replace two-pole transformers with single-pole transformers.

A single-pole transformer also rises up 11 metres in height but is 1.5 metres wide.

Bescom officials told TOI the support structure for a two-pole transformer costs Rs 88,000, while a single-pole transformer costs Rs 1 lakh.

Persuation by Jayanagar MLA B N Vijaya Kumar and the team work by BESCOM under the leadership of its Managing Director P Manivannan has resulted in speedy implementation.

The good initiative has been taken up a while after being posted on praja (as in many things).  Some questions/comments:

-  There don't appear to be any photos of the old vs. new.  Would it be too much to ask Bescom / BBMP to trumpet their own achievements on their sites? http://174.142.82.201/bescom/ is silent on this advancement; it could be indicated in a "What is New" or "News" section with photos.
-  Why cannot the transformer height be variable depending on where it is located?  It may have to be taller at certain locations to match the elevation of the space between two stories than in front of the window of a multi-storied building.  The cost difference to slope cables down and up should not be that high.
-  As in all things city, BBMP is responsible though the public may think electricity = Bescom.
- Why is the cost for supporting for a single pole transformer higher?

The major issue is that though there are smart government (BBMP/BDA/Bescom etc.) officials, there are constraints in implementation (funding, corruption, lack of "big picture" prioritization) that lead to slow rate of progress.  Citizens should unite, prioritize and request targeted services from relevant departments in a quick and timely manner than raising all sorts of issues at every available forum.  It would help if some prajagalu from Jayanagar can post pictures.

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