Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday inaugurated a pilot project to convert overhead electric wiring to an underground system in Shalimar Bagh in north Delhi.

She said that the Delhi government will soon expand this pilot project to other parts of the city.

“The government has allocated a budget of ₹100 crore for undergrounding overhead wires in a phased manner. The underground wiring system will make the electricity supply more reliable, safe, and efficient. The current condition of open and tangled wires affects both the city’s beauty and public safety,” Gupta said.

In Shalimar Bagh, the project will cost ₹8.07 crore. At least 5km of overhead high-tension (HT) and low-tension (LT) wires will be removed. Instead 10km of underground LT (440V) and 1.2km of HT (11KV) network will be built. Additionally, 23 new double-source feeder pillar boxes will be installed to enhance reliability of power supply. New GI (galvanised iron) octagonal poles and CCMS (Centralised Control and Monitoring System) switches will also be installed for street lighting.