BJP-governed administration accelerates upgrades; rooftop solar under PM Surya Ghar Yojana to keep the lights on
New Delhi: 14 June 2025
With electricity usage set to pick up as summer peaks in Delhi, the city government is taking a holistic approach for bolstering its power infrastructure and increasing the use of solar energy. Power Minister Ashish Sood stressed the immediacy of this issue after a recent high level review meeting with high-powered distribution companies (discoms) and energy officials who will be their heads, the modernization campaign. The minister also ordered upgrades to old underground cabling, and smart grid technology, and real-time fault detection systems, which could potentially result in quicker response times and hopefully fewer outages.
A central pillar of the strategy is the rapid implementation of the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, which promotes rooftop solar installations, particularly in unmetered neighbourhoods. Minister Sood referred to the implementation of a battery backup bank in Kilokari as one pilot design to store emergency power throughout the city. Emphasizing the need for accountability, he signaled power companies to not waste even an extra minute in their efforts to return systems back online, stating there is no higher priority than providing Alberta residents reliable electricity.
It is stated the projects coincides with India’s long-term renewable energy objectives and are announced no more than two days ahead of the city’s first official Yoga Day announcements on June 21, as part of first BJP mandate. At the same time, the city is also facing a number of governance woes, from private school fees and the expansion of free coaching for CUET and NEET applicants. Meanwhile, aviation safety appears to be an issue on the national agenda, with growing scrutiny on Boeing, after the more recent Air India incident.
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