13 Years On, Nere Power Substation in Rural Panvel Still Incomplete

Panvel, 21st May 2025: Even as Panvel emerges as a thriving industrial hub with major developments like JNPT, Navi Mumbai International Airport, and the expansion of Taloja MIDC, rural areas remain plagued by unreliable electricity. For over 13 years, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has failed to complete a substation at Nere, affecting around 28,000 consumers across 50 villages and 25 hamlets.
The 10 MVA substation, planned at Mahalaxmi Nagar in Nere, has missed multiple deadlines and seen repeated contractor changes. Initially launched over a decade ago, the project was eventually assigned to ST Electricals. However, the company’s representative, Sanjay Tiwari, claimed that work stalled due to a lack of funds—a claim MSEDCL officials have denied, stating there are no financial constraints.
Progress on the ground remains minimal. Although two underground power lines have been laid from Podi to Nere, the critical inspection and installation of the transformer remain incomplete, leaving the substation non-operational.
Panvel has added nearly two lakh electricity consumers in the past four years, bringing the total to 5.5 lakh domestic users and 600 industrial units. Despite generating approximately ₹250 crore in monthly revenue, residents in rural Panvel face two to three power outages daily due to the stalled infrastructure project.
Power in the region is supplied through nine feeders, including Gavan, Taloja, Kalamboli, and Nere. However, consumers connected to the Nere feeder continue to bear the brunt of delays, with no official timeline provided for the substation’s completion.
Local residents and elected representatives have voiced concerns over the lack of urgency shown towards rural electricity needs, demanding immediate action to resolve the prolonged issue.