Smart meters automatically transmit electricity consumption data to the power company, reducing reliance on manual meter readings. Representational pic
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Thursday held a mass road blockade at Charoti naka in Maharashtra's Palghar district, opposing the installation of smart electricity meters and with traffic movement affected on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway.
The protest was held on NH-48, a key route connecting Mumbai with Gujarat. Visuals showed a large crowd gathering on the carriageway and along the roadside, with several protesters carrying red party flags and umbrellas. Some protesters sat across the road as police personnel in khaki formed a line nearby.
The Palghar administration had made arrangements in anticipation of the protest. In a traffic-control notification issued a day earlier, officials estimated that around 5,000 to 6,000 people could participate in the agitation at Charoti.
The notification said traffic movement through Charoti naka would be affected from Thursday morning until the protest ended. Vehicles of all categories were to be diverted, with emergency services, including ambulances, fire engines and police vehicles, exempted from the restrictions.
The administration also listed alternate routes through the interiors of the district, including stretches via Vikramgad, Manor, and Wada, to allow traffic between Mumbai and Gujarat to continue moving.
The CPI(M) has opposed the installation of smart electricity meters, raising concerns over the replacement of existing meters, prior notice and electricity bills after installation.
mid-day.com had reported in June that electricity distribution companies, including Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), Adani Electricity, Tata Power, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), and Torrent Power were replacing conventional electricity meters across Maharashtra with smart meters as part of a wider power sector modernisation programme.
The rollout has also led to complaints from some consumers, who have alleged forced installations, inadequate prior notice, and higher electricity bills after their meters were replaced.
Power companies, however, maintain that smart meters are intended to improve the efficiency of electricity distribution, reduce losses, and provide consumers with better information about their electricity consumption.
Smart meters automatically transmit electricity consumption data to the power company, reducing reliance on manual meter readings. They can also enable consumers to monitor their usage and allow utilities to detect faults and possible tampering remotely.
The issue has previously triggered protests in Palghar. In January, a CPI(M)-led long march from Charoti to the district collectorate included cancellation of the smart-meter scheme among its demands.
(With ANI inputs)
