Transformers that jut out on to the footpaths pose threat to the pedestrians of being electrocuted.
By Shalu Chowrasia
Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) has identified 5,658 hazardous footpath locations where transformers pose a threat to pedestrians of being electrocuted. Of them, about 4,179 have been attended, according to data available with the Safety Section of the department.
Several transformers in the city are yet to be replaced or modified despite High Court’s direction in 2014 to identify hazardous ones and shift them.
Tripti, a resident of KR Puram, says that transformers on roads are always a risk. “I hear so many cases of transformer explosions in Bangalore. The concerned authority should take steps to ensure that the citizens are safe,” she added.
The Softcopy came across at least 30 transformers which were located on hazardous locations and were against the high court orders.
Malatesh Kodliyavar , Quality, Standards & Safety Section, BESCOM said, “It is a continuous process. Whenever a field staff identifies a transformer which is against the standards, it is reported and we work on it.”
“The modification plan of the transformers includes shifting the transformers on one pole at a height of eight to night feet. The modification process is almost complete. The shifting of the transformers is taking time as BBMP has not yet specified the spaces where they are to be shifted,” Kodliyavar added.
After a pedestrian was allegedly electrocuted by a transformer, a petition was filed in the high court. The court then ordered BESCOM and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to find out the number of transformers installed on footpaths and roads and submit a report indicating the time required to relocate them.
In January 2018, City Cast had reported that in Indiranagar only six of the 137 transformers were reinstalled at a height of 10 feet.
Urban Planner, Anil Bhaskaran, said that the new design of the transformers should be planned out considering that it does not obstruct the way of the pedestrians in any way. “Transformers on roads should be avoided. Modifying it to a certain height won’t do; our city needs to be planned better,” he added.
