AGARTALA, Dec 17 (TIWN): Although to mark the deadline on Bijoy Diwas, the PGCIL has carried out the testing charge of 17.3 KM power transmission on Wednesday, but Power Minister Manik Dey said that to begin the Power transmission to Bangladesh in full swing needs much more time. Despite of finalising the final tariff for power transmission to Bangladesh, Palatana Power Plant has decided to supply power to Bangladesh by December 16. It is to be mentioned here that though the transmission lines were charged up to supply 100 MW power to Bangladesh but the transmission in full swing can began only after the successful trial run is conducted in Bangladesh on Thursday. Talking to TIWN correspondent, Power Minister Manik Dey said that although power tariff has not been finalized yet, this could be done after charging of the 400 KV double circuit transmission line connecting Suryamaninagar substation to South Comilla substation in Bangladesh. He further said that although the trial run was successful, but to start the transmission in full swing requires much more time. The laying of power cable lines for the transmission of 100 MW power to Bangladesh is completed.

 Altogether 3,500 employees were engaged in the work of laying power cable lines for transmission of 100 MW power to Bangladesh. Reportedly, the 100 MW power will be dispatched to Bangladesh from Suryamaninagar power sub-station at the outskirts of Agartala and for transmission of 100 MW power, the works on transmission lines is completed on 400 KV double circuit transmission lines. About 143 towers are set up for 47 kilometer long transmission lines up to South Comilla of Bangladesh.

About Rs 250 crore is utilized to complete the transmission lines.

The Centre in consultation with the Tripura government had decided to sell 100MW after the Bangladesh government allowed free transhipment of heavy turbines for the 726.6MW Palatana thermal power plant.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had raised the issue during her visit to Tripura in January 2012 and pressed for power sale from Palatana to her country.

For power transmission and supply, 47km of power cable lines are being set up to connect Surjyamani Nagar in southern Agartala with southern part of Comilla town in Bangladesh. In Tripura, there will be 17km of transmission lines while the remaining 29km lines will be within Bangladesh.

In Tripura, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited has laid the transmission lines while in the neighbouring country a local company has carried out the work.

The total expense for construction of transmission lines and towers is of Rs 250 crore, of which Rs 83 crore is for construction in Tripura.