Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann launched a pilot underground electricity wiring network in Satouj village to make the area pole-free.

The project aims to reduce accidents and prevent crop fires caused by overhead electricity wires. By removing poles, the state seeks to improve overall safety in rural districts, a move that could position Punjab as the first Indian state with pole-free villages.

Located in the Sangrur district, Satouj is the native village of the chief minister. The underground power-supply network was implemented on a pilot basis to test the feasibility of scaling the model to other regions across the state.

The cost of the underground electricity project is 8 crore rupees [1]. This infrastructure shift moves power lines from the surface to subterranean conduits, removing the physical hazards associated with traditional utility poles and hanging wires.

Officials said the transition is intended to modernize the rural grid. The initiative focuses on eliminating the risks posed by falling poles or snapping lines during storms and agricultural activities.

“Punjab seeks to be the first state with pole-free villages.”

This pilot project represents a shift toward rural infrastructure modernization in Punjab. By replacing overhead lines with underground cabling, the government is addressing specific agricultural hazards, such as crop fires, while attempting to create a scalable blueprint for rural electrification that prioritizes safety over the lower cost of traditional pole installation.