Tripura has undertaken all steps, including building required infrastructure, to meet the state’s electricity demand, which is expected to rise to 700 MW in 2031-32, Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath said Monday.
Nath made the remarks after laying the foundation stone for the reconductoring of High-Temperature Low-Sag (HTLS) conductors of nine 132 kV transmission lines at Bodhjung Nagar in West Tripura district, being built at a cost of Rs. 126.33 crore.
Speaking at an event Monday evening, Nath said the state would be made self-reliant in power with the help of the Centre. “No development is possible without power. We are working to give a power supply for 24 hours,” said the minister.
The minister added that the Tripura Power Transmission Limited (TPTL) has undertaken the initiative to modernise the state’s power transmission system with financial assistance from the Ministry of North Eastern Region (DoNER).
His comments come in the midst of widespread power cuts in different parts of the state, especially after the government started initiatives to introduce power-efficient smart meters and a temporary hike in power tariff.
However, the state power corporation has recently enhanced its services and power cuts have decreased with regular maintenance and professional service delivery.
Nath also said trains and vehicles will be powered by electricity in future.
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“Trains, earlier used to run on coal, now run on diesel. Now, in Tripura, trains will be run on electric engines that will be launched on August 27 at Agartala Railway Station. We are changing lines and the entire work will be completed within one year,” said the minister.
The state government is encouraging people to use solar energy to generate their own electricity through the centrally sponsored PM Surya Ghar scheme.
