Tripura seeks Rs 1,448 crore for power sector upgrade

Agartala: The Tripura government has submitted a proposal worth Rs 1,448 crore for the infrastructural development of the power sector in the state.

An official from the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) told Business North East (BNE) that the proposal was submitted during the recently held North-Eastern and Eastern States Power Ministers’ Conference in Gangtok, which was attended by Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath and other officials.

"One of the key proposals presented by Tripura’s delegation was the Rs 1,331.26 crore infrastructure development package recommended by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) for implementation by 2031-32," said the official.

He said that the plan includes the establishment of five new 132 kV substations, eleven new 132 kV transmission lines spanning 232 circuit kilometers (CKM), the expansion of seven existing substations, and the upgradation of thirteen 132 kV transmission lines (262.14 CKM).

"While this ambitious plan is set to boost the state’s transmission capacity significantly, Minister Nath cautioned about the risk of increased consumer tariffs under the Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) and Regulated Tariff Mechanism (RTM) models," he said.

He strongly advocated for the entire project to be centrally funded.

“We urge the central government to approve 100% grant-based funding for these projects to ensure equitable access to quality power and to protect end consumers from additional tariff burdens,” said the official.

The official, who was also present at the meeting, said that another crucial proposal put forth was the immediate allocation of funds for upgrading SCADA and Energy Management System (EMS) infrastructure across all Load Dispatch Centers in the North-Eastern region.

"The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for this, submitted via NERPC, proposes a ₹117.30 crore upgrade specifically for Tripura. The state has requested this allocation to be released under the Power System Development Fund (PSDF), aiming to enhance operational efficiency, grid stability, and real-time monitoring in line with national standards," he said.

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The official further informed that during peak summer, the requirement of power in Tripura stands at 370 MW, and the state has secured 372 MW—ensuring uninterrupted power supply even during peak hours. 

Except for natural calamities or rare mechanical failures, there is no reason for load-shedding in Tripura.

The power sector of the state underwent corporatization, leading to the establishment of the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL), which commenced its operations on January 1, 2005. Under the Electricity Act of 2003, TSECL is recognized as a presumed licensee for the distribution of electricity.

There are over 9.33 lakh consumers of electricity supply across various categories in Tripura.