Tripura to roll out live line maintenance, deploy drones for power monitoring

Agartala: The Tripura Power Department will introduce live line maintenance works from February and deploy drone technology for power transmission monitoring from March, Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath said on Sunday.

The minister was addressing the third foundation day programme of Tripura Power Transmission Limited (TPTL) held at Urja Bhawan in the 79 Tilla area of Agartala.

Nath said strengthening the power sector was essential for the state’s overall development and that technological upgrades were being prioritised to improve efficiency and reliability. He said uninterrupted power supply was a key requirement for economic growth and public services.

According to the minister, TPTL has prepared a structured calendar to monitor progress and review departmental works on a regular basis. He said the calendar would serve as a planning and assessment tool for ongoing and upcoming projects within the power sector.

Referring to new initiatives, Nath said live line maintenance, which allows repair and upkeep of power lines without shutting down electricity supply, would be initiated in February. He added that drones would be introduced from March to assist in inspection and monitoring of transmission infrastructure, particularly in difficult terrain.

The minister said the power department was also focusing on replacing overhead lines with underground cables in key urban areas, including Agartala, Dharmanagar and Khumulwng, to improve safety and reduce outages caused by weather-related disruptions.

During the event, Nath also released a calendar of TPTL, officials said. He noted that the company was marking its foundation day not only with official programmes but also through community-oriented initiatives.

Officials said that as part of the foundation day observance, TPTL organised social and health-related activities, including a voluntary blood donation camp conducted under the supervision of ILS Hospital. Free LED bulbs were distributed to economically weaker families in nearby areas as part of the organisation’s social responsibility initiatives, they said.

According to officials, the objective of distributing LED bulbs was to promote energy efficiency and encourage reduced electricity consumption. Cultural programmes were also organised as part of the foundation day celebrations.

TPTL, a state-owned transmission utility, has been observing its foundation day annually with a combination of official reviews and outreach activities, officials said.