Surat, April 25 – The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) organized an Open House on April 25, 2025, at the SIECC campus in Sarsana, Surat, in collaboration with senior officials from Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Limited (DGVCL) and Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Limited (GETCO). The objective of the event was to directly present issues related to power supply in industrial and rural areas to the concerned authorities and establish a dialogue for prompt solutions.
SGCCI President Vijay Mewawala emphasized that electricity is not merely a resource but the lifeline of the economy, essential for the functioning of industries and businesses from rural areas to urban centers. As per agency report, the event witnessed active participation from several industry representatives including former SGCCI president B.S. Agarwal, Mayur Golwala from Sachin GIDC, Praveen Donga from Mangrol Industries, Chamber Group President Kiran Thummar, Kishor Boghani and Jayanti Thummar from Kim-Pipodara Association, Pawan Gupta from Pandesara Weavers Association, Chetan Ramani from Laskana Weavers Association, Sanjay Narola from Anjani Industries, Navdeep Lakkad and Bhupat Vaghasia from Alpine Industrial Park, and Shubham Karelia from Kejriwal Estate Bardoli, along with Chintan from Solex Energy.
Entrepreneurs from industrial areas such as Sachin GIDC, Kim, Pipodara, Mangrol, and Pandesara raised concerns regarding issues like shortage of substations, cable breakages, voltage fluctuations, excess billing, and challenges related to solar energy integration.
DGVCL Chief Engineer M.G. Surti addressed the concerns, stating that route markers and cable watchers would be installed in Sachin GIDC and other areas to tackle the problems of overloading and cable damage. He further informed that a fund of ₹1200 crore has been allocated for the development of underground cable networks in industrial regions, and work has already commenced. Plans are underway for setting up six to seven new 66x11 KV substations in the Sachin area this year, including special projects at Talangpur, Laxmi Park, and a multi-level substation.
Surti explained that the current practice of supplying electricity to both industrial and rural consumers through the same feeders affects quality. To rectify this, separate dedicated lines for industries will be introduced to ensure consistent and high-quality power supply.
GETCO Chief Engineer K.H. Rathod highlighted that the increased adoption of solar energy has impacted grid stability, leading to voltage imbalance issues. To address this, high-voltage reactors are being installed, and special plans are being developed considering the establishment of semiconductor industries in regions like Sanand and Anand.
Additional Chief Engineer of Bharuch region, Mrs. Pannaben Nayak, shared that during 2024-25, JETCO allocated 174 panels to industrialists and expanded the network through 14 new link lines in Surat and Bharuch. She added that digital vertical high-tech substations are being established in areas including Khajod to meet future demands.
The Open House also featured an interactive question-and-answer session where industry representatives raised specific concerns, and DGVCL and GETCO officials responded satisfactorily, offering solutions and assurances.
At the conclusion of the event, newly elected SGCCI Vice President Ashok Jirawala expressed gratitude to all guests and participants. The session was effectively conducted by Chamber Group Chairman Dr. Anil Sarawgi and Advisor Suresh Patel, marking a successful initiative towards strengthening the dialogue between industry stakeholders and power authorities.
