Gandhinagar, Dec 22 (NationPress) The Gujarat government has unveiled significant investments aimed at enhancing the state's power infrastructure. The Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Limited (GETCO) is set to establish five new substations and reinforce approximately 1,100 circuit kilometres (CKM) of transmission network in the fiscal year 2026–27, with an estimated budget of Rs 1,000 crore.

This announcement is made as the state approaches a pivotal target under the Kisan Suryoday Yojana (KSY), which aims to guarantee daytime electricity supply for irrigation to all farmers in Gujarat by March 2026.

In discussing the advancements in farmer-focused power reforms, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel noted that nearly 98 percent of farmers in Gujarat are already benefiting from daytime electricity, with the remaining farmers expected to be included by March of next year.

He emphasized that the availability of electricity and sufficient water resources has revolutionized Gujarat's agricultural scene, resulting in increased productivity and enhanced prosperity for farmers.

Referencing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, the Chief Minister stated that effective governance is reflected in the transparent execution of programs aimed at supporting farmers, as the overall development of India hinges on their prosperity, security, and self-sufficiency.

Gujarat has successfully put this vision into practice through the Kisan Suryoday Yojana, initiated in 2020. This scheme was designed to supply electricity to farmers during two time slots, from 5 am to 9 pm.

However, based on operational experience and the necessity to align power supply with daylight hours, the system was later optimized into a single daytime shift, generally between 7 am and 5 pm.

Officials stated that this transition has considerably alleviated peak-hour loads on the grid and facilitated better integration of solar energy, rendering the power supply system more sustainable and dependable.

Currently, 17,018 villages—which is 98.66 percent of villages in Gujarat—are receiving daytime electricity, and 98 percent of substations have transitioned to daytime operations.

Efforts are ongoing to convert the remaining 45 rotational substations, which will extend the scheme to an additional 231 villages.

To facilitate the extensive rollout of the program, the state government has already invested Rs 5,353.62 crore. This encompasses the establishment of 40 new substations, the construction of 4,640.73 CKM of transmission lines, and the enhancement of the distribution network through 3,927.72 CKM of MVCC initiatives.

Alongside GETCO's planned transmission improvements for 2026–27, the projected expenditure for laying AB cables and MVCC projects by DISCOMs in the same year is pegged at Rs 375 crore, according to officials.

Farmers throughout the state have reported remarkable advancements since the introduction of daytime power supply.

Jayesh Patel, a farmer from Kankrol village in Himmatnagar taluka and Chairman of the Himmatnagar APMC, stated that before the shift to daytime electricity, nighttime supply made irrigation challenging and perilous due to the threat of wild animals and water wastage.

“Daytime electricity has alleviated these issues. We can now irrigate our fields at the appropriate time and in the right amounts, conserving both time and water,” he remarked, expressing gratitude to both the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister on behalf of farmers in the area.

Officials affirmed that with the ongoing enhancement of the transmission and distribution network, the state government is committed to ensuring phased and uninterrupted execution of the Kisan Suryoday Yojana, providing reliable, sustainable, and farmer-friendly daytime power supply throughout Gujarat.