Bhubaneswar: The dangling overhead cables will shortly disappear from the city's skyline and make way for a safer and more efficient power supply system.

The state government has directed the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation to collaborate with Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) and put all the overhead high-tension wires under the ground before June.

The power body is working on the underground cabling system in the city, and according to reports, has finished the work at almost 70 per cent locations. The power companies - Central Electricity Supply Utility (Cesu) and the OPTCL - had started the project in 2016. In the first phase, four major roads - Airport Square to Acharya Vihar, New Airport Square to Nandankanan, Ekamra Square to Vani Vihar and Ravi Talkies to Rasulgarh Square - had been taken up, while in the next phase, other areas, including Old Town, was taken up.

Sources said the government was giving priority on finishing the underground cabling work in view of the upcoming Men's Hockey World Cup-2018 scheduled in November. A number of tourists will visit the city during the event.

"The project has been taken up to clear the city's skyline and ensure uninterrupted power supply to households. The underground cables are reliable and easy to maintain than the overhead ones. We have almost crossed halfway of the project and it will be finished before the deadline," said an OPTCL official.

At present, Cesu and the OPTCL are jointly laying the cables by digging up roadsides and filling the same after the work. However, in the new move, the civic body will help the power companies in digging and filling the pits, while the experts will carry out the cable-laying work.

"We have hired our own contractors and experts, who are looking after the digging and filling of the pits and laying of the cables. We hope that the civic body officials will come handy here," said a Cesu official.

The plan is to lay underground cables in 350km area of the city. "We came to know that the power companies had finished the work at most places. We will have a meeting with them and see where we could help them in the project," said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.

Many crossing or roads in the city contribute to visual pollution with the cables dangling overhead. Local residents said most of the cable TV and broadband operators tied their cables around lamp posts without any objection from the authorities. They dodge the underground route, which is, though safer, but labour and technology-intensive.

Unit-II resident Janmejaya Pati said it was a good move of the government to lay cabled under the ground. "I don't know whether the underground cables will ensure good power supply to the households, but it will definitely make the city skyline free and beautiful," said Pati.