50,000 Solar Power Units to Be Installed in Tripura Homes by March 2027 Under PM Suryaghar Yojana: Power Minister
Tripura, 4 May 3025: Power Minister Ratanlal Nath announced that the state aims to install solar power units in 50,000 households by March 2027 under the PM Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojana. Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat today, he said that 13,536 people have already registered online for the scheme, and solar power systems have been installed in 266 homes so far. The Minister emphasized the importance of electricity in modern life and stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is prioritizing renewable energy for a sustainable future.
He highlighted that 184 consumers in Tripura have already received government subsidies under the scheme, and 95 beneficiaries secured loans amounting to Rs 1.75 crore from banks. Moreover, 70 consumers have started earning by sending surplus electricity to the grid, with Rs 30,902 transferred to their accounts by Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd (TSECL). Domestic consumers can install solar units up to 10 kW, with subsidies available for up to 3 kW. For housing societies and residential welfare associations, installations can go up to 500 kW, with a subsidy of Rs 19,800 per kW per household (up to 3 kW).
Minister Nath also revealed that Tripura currently generates 19 MW of power from the Rokhia plant, and plans are underway to upgrade its 63 MW open cycle gas turbine to a 120 MW combined cycle gas turbine with Asian Development Bank (ADB) support, without additional gas usage.
Talks are ongoing with NHPC to renovate and modernize the Gomati Hydro Project, which could generate 15 MW once operational. Efforts are also being made to revive the long-defunct Maharani Micro Hydel Project (1 MW potential), and feasibility studies are being conducted for 10 other mini hydroelectric sites. Additionally, an 800 MW pump storage project is being considered in Chawmanu, Dhalai district.
A backup State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC) is planned in Kumarghat to support the existing Agartala SLDC. The state also plans to install three 33kV gas-insulated substations. Further developments include setting up 45 electric vehicle charging stations, underground cabling with covered conductors and LT AB cables, smart meter installations (with ADB support), and 100 MW of solar installations for 80,000 economically weaker households using less than 100 units of electricity per month. Solar installations are also being planned for all government institutions across the state.
The Minister concluded by noting that Tripura’s summer electricity demand peaks at 370 MW, and the state has a supply capacity of 372 MW. Also present at the press meet were TSECL General Manager Swapan Debbarma and AGM Konkalal Das, among others.
