TPSODL Strengthens Last-Mile Power Reliability in Malkangiri’s hills, and tribal heartland
Berhampur : TP Southern Odisha Distribution Limited (TPSODL) has carried out a series of network strengthening initiatives in Malkangiri district aimed at ensuring greater reliability, resilience, and accessibility of power supply in one of Odisha’s most remote service areas. The measures, executed over the last few months, have been directed at overcoming recurring supply disruptions and building a stronger backbone for critical services and rural households across the district.
Malkangiri has historically posed operational challenges due to its geographical location and dispersed population. In order to address these, TPSODL has implemented systematic upgrades across substations, feeders, and distribution lines. At the K.Gumma substation, redundancy has been created to address the risk associated with single-transformer dependency. This step will significantly reduce the possibility of widespread outages and ensure continuous supply to dependent areas. In Balimela and Maithili, transformer capacities have been upgraded to 5 MVA, thereby strengthening load management and meeting the increasing demand of consumers.
Supply reliability at the 33 kV level has also been improved through feeder strengthening and connectivity enhancements. This includes linking Khairaput school to a dedicated line and reinforcing distribution in areas surrounding the Chitrakonda reservoir, which are particularly vulnerable to seasonal stresses. Further, TPSODL has extended and reinforced 11 kV lines to reach deeper into habitations such as K.Gumma, Chitrakonda, Pandripani, Bajrangi Colony, and Bandiguda. These extensions are designed to improve last-mile delivery and reduce the time taken to restore supply during breakdowns or natural disturbances.
The impact of these upgrades goes beyond technical performance. Reliable electricity is enabling households to access quality lighting and domestic services, schools and hostels to run smoothly, and anganwadis and health sub-centres to function without disruption. Agricultural pumps and small businesses in remote areas are also benefitting from greater stability of supply, thereby contributing to livelihoods and local economic activity.
For the tribal communities residing in Malkangiri, including the Koya, Bhumia, Paraja, Bonda, and Didayi, these improvements are expected to make a substantial difference in their daily lives. Access to dependable electricity in these clusters is not only a service utility but also a critical enabler of education, healthcare, social welfare schemes, and income generation activities. By systematically reinforcing the grid, TPSODL is ensuring that these communities are not left behind in the state’s development trajectory.
Speaking on the initiative, Mr. Amit Kumar Garg, Chief Executive Officer of TPSODL, said, “Malkangiri’s geography presents unique challenges for power distribution. Through systematic upgrades, we are building a resilient network that supports education, healthcare, livelihoods, and community development. Reliable power supply in such areas is not just about electricity—it is about empowering people and enabling progress.”
The upgrades undertaken in Malkangiri are part of TPSODL’s broader mandate to provide safe, reliable, and quality power supply across Southern Odisha. As a joint venture between Tata Power and the Government of Odisha, TPSODL continues to invest in network modernization, supply reliability, and customer-centric solutions, even in areas where terrain and remoteness demand extra effort. With each round of improvement, the company is reinforcing its commitment to delivering quality power to all categories of consumers and aligning its operations with the wider goals of inclusive growth and sustainable development.
