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Market Intelligence

Uttara 3rd Phase Power Undergrounding

Uttara 3rd Phase Power Undergrounding Overview

The Uttara 3rd Phase power undergrounding project is a distribution-grid modernization project designed to place above-ground distribution lines below ground in Uttara 3rd Phase, a planned township in northern Dhaka. By converting overhead feeders to underground cables, the project aims to improve urban appearance and improve supply reliability.

The project is procured by DPDC (Dhaka Power Distribution Company), and is being designed from the start as an underground distribution network as part of the Uttara 3rd Phase township development. It is also expected to accelerate local infrastructure renewal alongside the opening of MRT Line 6.

Uttara 3rd Phase
Project
Power Undergrounding
2,000+ acres
Area
New town district
USD 200M+
Budget
Estimated
DPDC
Procuring Entity
Dhaka Distribution Company
ADB/JICA
Financing
Multi-lateral finance
33/11kV
Voltage
Underground cables
5+ units
Substations
To be constructed
36 months
Timeline
Planned

Project Scope

Uttara 3rd Phase Undergrounding Scope
CategoryDescriptionScaleSpecificationRemarks
33kV underground feederTransmission distribution30km+XLPE cableMain transmission line
11kV underground feederSecondary distribution80km+XLPE cableBranch distribution
Substation33/11kV5 unitsGIS typeIndoor structure
Ring Main Unit11kV branch network60+ unitsSF6 insulationLooped network
Ducts & manholesCable corridor110km+HDPE duct bankPartial shared trenches

Overhead vs Underground Comparison

Existing Overhead Distribution
Outage50+ hours/year (storm and lightning)
AestheticsWires and poles degrade cityscape
SafetyElectric shocks and pole-collapse accidents
CostLower upfront cost
Underground Distribution (Target)
OutageTarget within 5 hours/year
AestheticsClean city with no overhead lines
SafetyReduced shock and cyclone damage risk
CostThree times upfront, lower O&M cost

Korean Company Participation Opportunities

01
Underground Distribution EPC
Korean firms can participate in EPC for the 33kV/11kV underground distribution system, including ducts, cables, and substations. Korea's urban undergrounding experience in Seoul, Busan, and Sejong can be used as a benchmark. Key technologies include duct installation, cable laying, and joint-box construction.
02
Power Cable and Equipment Exports
XLPE 33kV/11kV power cables, ring main units (RMU), cable jointing materials, and manhole fittings can be exported. Korea Cable and Advanced Electric are examples of Korean cable and distribution equipment firms with global certifications.
03
GIS Substation Construction
Korean firms can engage in design, EPC execution, and procurement for five 33/11kV GIS substations. Urban indoor substations focus on space efficiency and safety, where Korean compact substation construction capabilities are highly competitive.
04
Distribution Automation Systems
The project requires automation systems for the underground network, including SCADA, DAS, and automated fault isolation. Korean distribution automation technologies can shorten outage durations and improve operational efficiency.

Project Participation Flow

Power Undergrounding Participation Flow
Project Information
DPDC and ADB announcements
↓
PQ Submission
Undergrounding project experience
↓
Bidding
EPC package-based procurement
↓
Execution
36 months
↓
Commissioning
Grid interconnection

As a modern distribution infrastructure project in Dhaka's new township, this initiative offers strong opportunities for Korean urban undergrounding know-how.

33KV/11KV Underground Cable InstallationReview urban underground cable projects
Electricity Distribution ModernizationCheck Dhaka and Chattogram distribution grid upgrades
undergroundingUttarapowerDhakadistribution
Uttara 3rd Phase Power Undergrounding | Dhaka Trade Portal