Lucknow: In a shocking case of negligence, the Power Corporation has spent over ₹5 crore this year on the maintenance of transformers and LT (Low Tension) line boxes in the city, yet many transformers are still left exposed without even basic safety covers. Despite the huge expenditure, transformers and their boxes are lying open, posing a major risk to public safety.
In several areas, transformers are placed right next to roads, with broken or completely missing fences that were supposed to protect them. The situation is so dire that live wires and open boxes are dangling dangerously near footpaths and busy roads. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.
For instance, there’s a transformer on the busy road near Aishbagh Flyover with a fully exposed LT box. The condition of this transformer reflects the lack of seriousness with which maintenance work has been done, despite official claims. In monsoon, these open boxes fill with water, increasing the risk of short circuits and accidents.
Senior officials are often found relaxing in air-conditioned offices, giving excuses of “budget issues” while ignoring the dangers on the ground. Engineers are not inspecting these faulty transformers despite repeated complaints.
Currently, Lucknow has 26 electricity distribution zones with over 30,000 transformers and LT boxes. A two-member committee has now been formed to inspect the condition of these units, but locals fear this might just be another eyewash.
A prime example of this negligence is the transformer near Aishbagh Power House, where an LT box lies open just 100 meters away, fully exposed on a busy main road. Without proper fencing or barriers, thousands of commuters pass by daily, risking electrocution.
Shockingly, in the past seven years, around 20 people have lost their lives in accidents related to such open transformers and boxes in Lucknow.
Author: Bihar Desk
मुख्य संपादक (Editor in Chief)
