Gurugram set to introduce India's First Full Scale Smart Grid System and Pod Taxi Service

Gurugram will soon bid goodbye to regular electricity blackouts as the Centre has committed Rs 273 crore for the area to become the first city in India to get full-scale smart grid for the distribution of electricity. The achievement will help end pollution caused by diesel generators and will also be pocket-friendly.

What is smart grid?

It is an electrical grid which includes a variety of operational and energy measures like smart meters, smart appliances, and renewable energy resources. Different power sources like solar and wind, with traditional sources, are also integrated with the new system and all cables will be moved underground.

Consumers with solar and wind systems can supply the surplus, unused power into the grid. The system can also adjust as per the the total consumption from the mains and consumers pay for the balance or get paid for the excess supply.

The state government will also add the same amount as the Centre and the remaining amount will come from the Power System Development Fund. The expansion of the distribution network has been planned to meet the rising demand.

"Gurgaon's smart grid project will be a first of its kind in India, and serve as an example for projects elsewhere," The Better India quoted Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2017. The Power Grid Corporation of India Limited has floated the tender and the bids will be opened on 22 July.

The amount has been committed for the first phase which will cover Sector 1-57, crossing regions like DLF, Sohna Road, South City, Maruti, IDC, Qadipur and New Colony. Phase two will include sectors 58-115 and the third phase will cover IMT Manesar.

Pod taxi service in Gurugram

Adding to the list of firsts, the government is also set to initiate work on India's first pod taxi service in Gurugram by the end of July.

Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had earlier announced that the state should begin work on the Rs 4,000 crore Metrino pod taxi service project by July this year.

It will introduce driver-less pods suspended on a ropeway in the city. The first phase will include a pilot project covering the 13 km stretch from Gurugram-Delhi border to Badshapur Mod with 16 stations. The ropeway-like system will run on electricity and the capital cost of Metrino is Rs 50 crore per km.