The Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) has initiated a major upgrade of Mumbai’s ageing underground electricity network following a fire in Bhuleshwar suspected to have been caused by a short circuit. Around 300 km of underground cables require replacement, with the work expected to take two to three years.
The fire broke out on Thursday at a building housing an imitation jewellery shop in Third Bhoiwada, South Mumbai. The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of BEST’s power infrastructure, as several cable sections are estimated to be 70 to 80 years old, with some installed before Independence.
“Following power outages, temporary connections are often provided, increasing the load on existing lines,” said a senior BEST official. “This can cause old cables to overheat and catch fire. This could also have been a factor in the Bhuleshwar blaze.”
BEST has launched a tender process for replacing the 300 km network at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore. “The tender is expected to be awarded shortly, with work likely to begin by December or early January 2027,” said another official. “The replacement programme is expected to take around two to three years to complete, with the entire network upgrade targeted for 2029. This is crucial to prevent power supply failures and short circuits owing to overloaded cables.”
Officials said damaged cables have sometimes been temporarily repaired using insulating tape. Heat, weather conditions and excessive electrical loads can further weaken insulation, increasing the possibility of short circuits. Diverting electricity through alternative cables to restore supply can also put additional pressure on the remaining network.
BEST has identified nearly 1,200 priority cable-fault locations across South and Central Mumbai, affecting areas including Marine Lines, Girgaon, Wadala, Dadar and Zaveri Bazaar. These areas collectively serve around 1.05 million electricity consumers. Repairing the faults will involve excavating small sections of roads to replace temporary wiring, with the exercise expected to take about a year.
Road excavation could also affect recently concretised stretches, particularly in Bhuleshwar. BEST plans to compensate the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation at an estimated Rs 10,000 per metre for digging.
The utility currently has more than 2,500 unresolved technical and cable-fault complaints and has received approximately 7,500 power-related complaints this year. It has approved the recruitment of 690 workers to strengthen fault-repair operations, particularly during heatwaves and monsoon waterlogging.
Source: Hindustan Times
