Chandigarh, Oct 12 - The Chandigarh Administration plans to spend Rs. 14 crore this fiscal for upgrading its power infrastructure, a senior official said here Monday.

"Last year we had spent Rs. 35 crore and this year we have plans to invest Rs. 14 crore to ensure uninterrupted power supply for the city dwellers," Chandigarh's Finance-cum-Engineering Secretary Sanjay Kumar said.

In August, a new 66-KV sub-station was commissioned in Sector 56 to provide electricity to the southern sectors.

"Out of the Rs. 14 crore, nearly Rs. 9 crore would be spent in 33 KV and above works, while the remaining amount will be incurred in 11 KV and below works," Kumar said.

The administration has also mooted a proposal to provide automatic capacity banks at various sub-stations as it would minimise the internal power losses and would generate quality power.

Demand for power in Chandigarh has been steadily rising over the past few years as the city has witnessed fast economic growth.

Besides augmenting the existing power infrastructure, the administration is also planning to enter into partnership with other power surplus states to meet its future requirements.

"Efforts are under way for long-term tie-ups with some central power projects. Looking at the power needs of Chandigarh in the next 10 years, we are making arrangements for the supply of another 1,000 MW by 2018," said Kumar.

The maximum power utilisation in 2006 was around 200 MW, while it touched a high of 318 MW in July this year.

The administration is expecting the demand to go beyond 400 MW by 2011-12 with the city emerging as a business hub in north India.

Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, has no power generation of its own. The union territory gets over 265 MW power from 24 power generating stations in other states.

Since last two weeks, the administration has introduced rotational power cuts of one to two hours in different parts of the city. (IANS)