India, Feb. 23 -- Overhead electrical wires across Chandni Chowk will be shifted underground in phases, with 52.5 km of cables rerouted beneath 26 roads, Delhi government officials said.The Rs.159.47-crore project aims to improve safety, reliability and load management in one of Delhi's most congested commercial hubs.

Phase one will cover around 1.5 km along Esplanade Road and More Sarai Road and is likely to be completed in three months after approval from the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission. Phase two will cover the remaining 24 stretches, spanning nearly 51 km, officials said.

Officials said redundant overhead wires will be removed, and illegal connections, if identified, will be regularised or removed. The underground networ...