In an amalgamation of divinity and modernity, the highly anticipated Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is poised to become one of the largest shrines in India post-Independence. Covering a sprawling 2.7 acres of land, the temple complex is ready for the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla (the child Ram) on January 22, with the entire three-floor temple expected to be completed by December 2025.
What sets this monumental structure apart is not only its spiritual significance but also its staggering power requirements. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust overseeing the construction has proposed a jaw-dropping 4,000-kilowatt (kw) electricity load for the temple complex. To put this into perspective, this load surpasses the power requirement of the state-of-the-art Lok Bhavan, the chief minister’s five-storey secretariat, and is four times greater than that of the prestigious five-star Taj hotel in Lucknow.
Pradeep Verma, executive engineer at Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) in Ayodhya, revealed that the trust plans to gradually increase the electricity load in phases as the temple construction progresses. Currently, the temple already boasts a 1,200-kw power connection in the name of Trust general secretary Champat Rai. Moreover, the temple will be connected to an independent feeder to ensure uninterrupted 24×7 electricity, diverging from its current reliance on the feeder meant for Sri Ram Hospital.
The proposed 4,000-kw power connection for the temple is unprecedented in Ayodhya, where there are few connections of such magnitude, primarily catering to sugar mills and industries. Verma emphasised that a 4,000-kw power connection is significant enough to meet the power requirements of 1,000 houses, each with a 4-kw power connection.
The completion of various projects aimed at transforming Ayodhya into a modern and spiritual city is expected to drive up the overall electricity demand for the town. As a response to the anticipated surge in demand, energy corporations are enhancing the infrastructure to meet future requirements.
Verma projected that the maximum power demand for Ayodhya could reach or even exceed 100 megawatts (mw) in the coming years, a substantial increase from the current demand of 40 mw. To address this, an additional 30 mva distribution capacity is being added through the establishment of a new distribution sub-station, along with the augmentation of transformer capacities in the town.
In tandem, the UP Power Transmission Corporation (UPPTCL) is establishing a 220 kva transmission sub-station exclusively dedicated to serving the power transmission requirements of the temple city. P Guruprasad, Managing Director of UPPTCL, announced that the 220-kva Dakshin Nagar sub-station, an investment exceeding Rs 92 crore, is scheduled to be operational by March 2024. This sub-station will handle the entire transmission load and facilitate the evacuation of solar power generated by a plant to be set up by NTPC.
Guruprasad highlighted that this sub-station’s completion within 12 months is a remarkable feat, as such projects typically take 18 months. He asserted that the new sub-station would ensure uninterrupted power supply to Ayodhya for the next decade.
As the grand Ram Temple nears completion, Ayodhya is poised to radiate a harmonious blend of divine spirituality and cutting-edge modernity, illuminating not only the spiritual heart of India but also setting a new standard for architectural and technological prowess.
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