Odisha’s young engineers power india’s first statewide Power Distribution Technology Centre
By Swagatika Mohanty
Bhubaneswar, July 22: Odisha has achieved a remarkable milestone in the power sector with the successful operation of India’s first statewide Power Distribution Technology Centre (PDTC), run by over 50 young engineers—many of them women—from across the state.
Strategically located in Bhubaneswar, the PDTC functions as a 24×7 digital nerve centre that integrates cutting-edge technologies like SCADA, GIS, ADMS, and real-time data analytics. This state-of-the-art facility ensures live monitoring and seamless control of 250 SCADA-enabled primary substations in Central Odisha. It also acts as the Main Control Centre (MCC) for TP Central Odisha Distribution Ltd (TPCODL) and the Backup Control Centre (BCC) for 526 substations operated by Tata Power’s other Odisha Discoms—TPWODL, TPSODL, and TPNODL.
What sets the PDTC apart is its all-Odia talent pool. The engineers managing this mission-critical system hail from districts like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Berhampur, Balasore, and Angul, and are alumni of local engineering institutions. Their work embodies the ‘Skilled in Odisha’ vision, with several women professionals leading from the front.
Among them is Pravati Mishra, Executive Engineer, a CV Raman College graduate from Bhubaneswar. “From customer service to operations, contributing to Odisha’s first integrated control centre is a proud milestone,” she says. “We’re ensuring power reliability, safety, and responsiveness every day.”
Another key contributor is Pragnya Sarada Das, Head of Reliability at TPCODL, a Veer Surendra Sai University alumnus and one of the first engineers to join Tata Power’s Odisha operations. “The PDTC is the embodiment of our power distribution transformation—future-ready, secure, and grounded in local expertise,” she remarks.
Beyond system monitoring, the PDTC plays a vital role in managing Odisha’s peak electricity demand—which now crosses 6,000 MW—using weather-integrated forecasting, intelligent switching, and automated fault detection. It acts as a control tower ensuring uninterrupted power supply to millions across both rural and urban areas.
The PDTC’s success is part of Tata Power’s broader transformation of Odisha’s power sector through its four Discoms—TPCODL, TPWODL, TPSODL, and TPNODL—run in joint venture with the Government of Odisha. Together, they serve nearly 4.6 crore people.
As digital infrastructure and indigenous engineering talent come together, the PDTC stands as a national benchmark—showcasing Odisha’s rise as a leader in smart power distribution and resilient energy systems.
