30 June,2026 02:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra govt said new electricity substations are being planned to reduce pressure on the existing infrastructure and improve the reliability of power supply. File Pic
Maharashtra government on Tuesday informed the state assembly that frequent power outages in parts of Mumbai are being caused by a sharp rise in electricity demand and an overloaded power distribution network, reported the PTI.
The government said new electricity substations are being planned to reduce pressure on the existing infrastructure and improve the reliability of power supply.
Replying to a calling attention motion, Minister of State for Urban Development Madhuri Misal said Mumbai recorded its highest temperatures in 57 years during May and June, leading to a significant increase in electricity consumption, the news agency reported.
She said peak electricity demand increased from around 907 MW in 2025 to nearly 1,010 MW in 2026, putting excessive pressure on the city's distribution network and resulting in frequent supply interruptions.
The minister said the existing distribution points and overhead equipment are operating under heavy load, making additional substations necessary.
According to the government, BEST has identified three locations for new substations, and a proposal has been submitted to the Mumbai City Collector for land allocation, as per the PTI.
She said the new facilities would help reduce network load and improve the stability of electricity supply.
During the discussion, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Ajay Chaudhary claimed that power cuts have become more frequent over the past two years, reported the PTI.
He alleged that nearly 1,200 temporary jumper connections exist in south Mumbai and questioned whether the electricity network would be able to withstand the ongoing monsoon.
Referring to the recent fire at Chor Bazaar, Chaudhary also questioned whether the government was weakening BEST and urged it to fill vacant technical posts without delay.
He further alleged that consumers often fail to get through to BEST's call centre and that complaints remain unresolved for long periods.
Responding to concerns over staffing, Misal said the recruitment process for 719 employees is under way, with around 150 appointments already completed.
She added that work to upgrade approximately 1,200 distribution points is also in progress.
Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar criticised BEST over the repeated power outages, saying the situation was unacceptable for Mumbai, the country's financial capital, as per the PTI.
He directed BEST officials to submit details on complaint response times, strengthen the customer call centre and prepare a comprehensive action plan to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
Narwekar also announced that a high-level meeting involving the BEST General Manager, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner and state government officials would be held on Tuesday afternoon to review the issue and formulate long-term solutions.
Congress MLA Amin Patel questioned whether Mumbai's electricity situation had become comparable to that of rural areas.
He claimed that MLA Raees Shaikh was trapped in a lift for nearly two hours due to a sudden power outage.
Patel, along with MLAs Raees Shaikh and Mahesh Sawant, staged a protest in the well of the House. Patel also warned that he would launch a hunger strike if the issue is not resolved, the news agency reported.
(with PTI inputs)
