70 years after Independence, power finally reaches Elephanta Caves near Mumbai

Mumbai: Nearly seventy years after Independence, the Gharapuri Island that houses the world famous Elephanta Caves near Mumbai will now get an uninterrupted power supply.

According to ANI, a 7.5-km long undersea cable has brought electricity to the world-famous Gharapuri Island, which houses the UNESCO world heritage site, just 10-km off from the Mumbai coast.

Electricity connection made accessible to Elephanta Island after 70 years of Independence; a 7.5 km long undersea cable brought electricity to three villages- Raj Bander, Mora Bander & Shet Bander #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/95SfooC7PD — ANI (@ANI) February 23, 2018

"It's a historic day today. This is the first time that such kind of big wire cable is used in the Arabian Sea to spread the lines for electricity," Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Minister of Energy, New and Renewable Energy, said.

The minister further said that the step would boost tourism and more people would now visit the world heritage site.

The step will also benefit three villages including Raj Bander, Mora Bander and Shet Bander. 

The Elephanta Caves and three villages surrounding it have received power through generators in the past three decades.

The shift to marine cables, according to officials, will eliminate concerns about intermittent supply and boost tourism on the island with a 950-strong population that sees huge footfalls. 

“MTDC (Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation) incurred major expenditure on diesel bills but provided electricity through generators for 27 years. The permanent supply will solve villagers’ problems,” Waghmare said.

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) began work on the project in 2015.

“The 7.5-km cables are the longest laid on the seabed anywhere in India,” an MSEDCL official said.

After several years, the Elephanta Festival was last month shifted back from the Gateway of India to Gharapuri. 

Power was supplied for the event via the underwater cables, and the system made the festival a big hit.