Angul, April 7: Union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde today laid the foundation stones of two 765/40 KV capacity pooling stations of Power Grid Corporation of Indian Limited (PGCIL) at Angul and Sundergarh.

The estimated cost of each project is Rs 2,300 crore.

“These two stations are a part of a high capacity corridor for transfer of power from various independent power producers coming up in the periphery of these regions. These power grid transmission stations will also strengthen the transmission system of Odisha and the eastern region. They will help provide better connectivity,” said an official spokesperson.

In Angul, the station is being built on an area of 30 acres. Addressing the inauguration programme, the minister announced that the power corporation would set up an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in the area to provide training to youths, whose families have to give up land so that the power plants may be set up. Youths trained at the ITI will be able to take up jobs in various upcoming power plants and industries.

“There is no provision of job to land losers but the power grid will set up an ITI to educate youths in technology. Youths in the surrounding areas of the mega power plants will get jobs there,” said the minister.