Agartala, Nov 25 — Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Monday announced that the state now supplies electricity for an average of 23 hours and 49 minutes daily, securing the fourth position in India in power distribution performance. Citing the National Feeder Monitoring System (NFMS) report, he said villages currently receive 23 hours and 43 minutes of power, while urban areas enjoy 23 hours and 59 minutes.
“Before our government, the state received power for around 21 hours. Today, it stands at nearly 24 hours. For the last seven and a half years, we have been working relentlessly to ensure uninterrupted and quality electricity for the people of Tripura,” Nath said in a press release issued by his office.
The Minister made these remarks after attending the bhumi pujan ceremony of the Rukhiya 120 MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Project in Sepahijala district. He explained that the existing gas-based thermal power plant at Rukhia, built in six phases between 1990 and 2006, currently has nine Open Cycle gas turbine generator sets. Six of these 8 MW units have been abandoned after completing their operational lifespan, while the remaining three 21 MW units contribute to a total installed capacity of 63 MW. However, due to limited gas supply, the plant is presently generating only 19 MW.
Nath announced that, with Asian Development Bank (ADB) assistance, the existing 63 MW facility will be upgraded into a 120 MW combined cycle gas turbine system. This conversion, costing ₹1,320 crore and expected to be completed within three years, will significantly increase efficiency—from 35–45% in open cycle systems to around 60%.
The Minister also highlighted steps taken to curb power theft, including the installation of 13,435 km of AB Cable compared to just 198 km previously. Under PM-JANMAN, 11,692 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) households have been electrified, along with 2,285 tribal families under DA-JGUA, with another 5,392 families to be covered soon.
He added that NHPC is assessing the feasibility of setting up an 800 MW pumped storage project at Chawmanu in Dhalai district—potentially the first in Northeast India. Meanwhile, consumer bill payment compliance has risen to 46.49%, up from 42.28%, indicating steady improvement in revenue collection.
