Agartala, 27th August 2026 : Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Thursday said the state government and the Power Department have taken a series of measures to strengthen the electricity infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted power supply to consumers, particularly during adverse weather conditions.
Speaking about the developments in the power sector on the first of Tripura Legislative Assmebly, Power minister informed the number of 132 kV substations in the state has increased from 12 to 21, while work on two more substations is underway. Similarly, 33 kV substations have increased from 44 to 75, with work on another 18 in progress.
The minister said 272 km of railway-related power connectivity work has been completed, while 408 km of underground cable has been laid to ensure continuity of power supply during rain and storms.
He further said 1,464 circuit kilometres of covered conductors have been installed to minimise power disruptions during storms, with work on another 360 km underway. Work orders have also been issued for live-line maintenance and the use of drone technology for power infrastructure monitoring. The department is also working on establishing mobile substations.
According to Minister, new technology has been introduced between the 79 Tilla Power Station and Rukhia, with around 75 per cent of the work completed. A new tower line has also been established in Gandacherra, where such infrastructure was previously unavailable.
Highlighting the government’s efforts to expand electricity access in tribal areas, the minister said power connections have been provided to 11,692 Reang families who previously had no electricity.
Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, around 17,400 registrations have been made, while 4,540 solar systems have been installed, generating approximately 15.5 MW of power, he said.
He also announced that the government is considering providing financial assistance for solar installations to around 1.5 lakh families in the first phase. He said nearly four lakh families in the state consume up to 50 units of electricity.
On the issue of power generation, the minister said the decline in gas-based power generation has affected the state’s overall electricity generation.
Addressing criticism over electricity tariffs, Minister said said the Left Front government had increased tariffs by 62 per cent in 2010 and by 116 per cent over its last eight years in office, while the present government had increased tariffs by around 40 per cent over eight years.
He clarified that tariff decisions are taken by the Electricity Regulatory Commission after reviewing the relevant matters, while the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) is responsible for implementing them.
Power Minister said that after the latest tariff increase, the state government and Chief Minister immediately intervened, held discussions and decided to provide 100 per cent subsidy on the additional tariff burden. Consumers who have already paid the additional amount will have the excess adjusted against their subsequent bills, he said.
On smart meters, the minister said their installation has been undertaken across several states following the Centre’s mandate. He cited Himachal Pradesh, where around 43 per cent of consumers have been covered, and Jammu and Kashmir, where the coverage is around 73 per cent, while Tripura has installed smart meters for around four lakh consumers.
He also claimed that the smart-metering process in Tripura began during the Left Front tenure in 2015 but was not implemented effectively. He further alleged that the Indian Audit and Accounts Department had flagged financial irregularities in an approximately Rs 80-crore smart-meter work order.
The minister reiterated that the government remains committed to strengthening the state’s power infrastructure and protecting the interests of electricity consumers.
