Tripura Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha on Thursday inaugurated the Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) scheme and laid the foundation stone for the Agartala Underground Cabling Project, aimed at modernising the city’s power distribution network, improving electricity reliability and promoting clean energy across the state.
Addressing a programme at Bardowali Higher Secondary School in Agartala, the Chief Minister announced that rooftop solar plants with a capacity of 1 kW each would be installed in the homes of 1.5 lakh families in Tripura under the first phase of the ULA scheme.
The Agartala Underground Cabling Project, with an estimated allocation of Rs 1,437 crore, will replace overhead electricity distribution lines operated by the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) with underground cables. The project is being implemented with financial support from the state government and TSECL, and is targeted for completion by 2028.
Once completed, the project will convert the high-tension (HT) and low-tension (LT) distribution lines across Agartala Municipal Corporation areas into underground cables. The initiative is expected to reduce power disruptions caused by falling trees and damaged wires during storms, while also minimising the risk of electrical fires.
The Chief Minister said smart-grid technology and a smart control room would enable real-time monitoring of the electricity distribution system. Modern horizontal directional drilling (HDD), or trenchless technology, will be used to reduce road excavation and minimise inconvenience to commuters and residents during construction. Three agencies have been entrusted with executing the project.
Explaining the rooftop solar initiative, Saha said the scheme was introduced to extend the benefits of solar power to low-income households under the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, launched in 2024.
Under the first phase, 1 kW rooftop solar plants will be installed in the homes of 1.5 lakh families consuming less than 50 units of electricity per month. The initiative aims to generate an additional 150 MW of solar power.
The entire installation cost will be borne by the state government through TSECL, and beneficiaries will not have to pay for installing the solar plants. The Central Ministry of Power will provide a subsidy of Rs 33,000 per installation, while the remaining funds will be arranged through the state budget and support from the Asian Development Bank.
Beneficiaries will, however, have to deposit a refundable security amount of Rs 1,000. TSECL will be responsible for maintaining the solar plants for the first 10 years, during which each beneficiary is expected to receive around 100 units of electricity free of cost every month. Ownership of the solar plants will be transferred entirely to the respective beneficiaries after 10 years.
Saha said the two projects would play an important role in modernising Tripura’s power infrastructure, improving the reliability of electricity supply, supporting future economic growth and expanding the use of clean energy.
He added that the state government had been working over the past eight years to expand and modernise the electricity infrastructure and improve its safety and reliability. The expansion of substations, transmission and distribution lines, distribution transformers and other modern facilities had strengthened the state’s power supply network, he said.
State Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath, Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) Mayor and MLA Dipak Majumder, Tripura Assembly Deputy Speaker Ramprasad Paul, MP Rajib Bhattacharjee and MLA Meen Rani Sarkar were among those present at the programme.
Power Department Secretary Abhishek Singh delivered the welcome address, while TSECL Managing Director Biswajit Basu proposed the vote of thanks. Corporators of the Agartala Municipal Corporation and officials of the concerned departments also attended the event.