Agartala's Overhead Electricity Network to Be Gradually Shifted Underground by 2028, Nearly 1.5 Lakh Poor Households to Receive Free 1-KW Solar Systems
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, October 30, 2026
The Tripura Government's long-promised initiatives to replace the city's overhead electricity cables with an underground distribution network and provide free rooftop solar systems to economically weaker households have entered another phase, with Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath performing the Bhumi Pujan for the two projects on Thursday in the presence of Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha and Deputy Speaker of the Tripura Legislative Assembly Ramprasad Paul and Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor Dipak Majumder.
Although both projects had been approved earlier and preparatory work and implementation-related activities had already commenced, the formal Bhumi Pujan ceremony was held yesterday in the eve of the upcoming civic polls at the premises of Bardowali Higher Secondary School in Agartala, marking an important public milestone in the government's power-sector modernisation programme.
The two projects, the Rs 1,437-crore Agartala Underground Cabling Project and the Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) rooftop solar initiative, are expected to bring significant changes to electricity distribution, improve power supply reliability and provide financial relief to thousands of economically weaker families.
The Agartala Underground Cabling Project is designed to gradually replace the existing overhead high-tension and low-tension electricity distribution lines across the city with underground cables. The project is being implemented jointly by the State Government and Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL), with a target of completing the work by 2028.
For years, the BJP-led government has spoken about the need to free Agartala's electricity distribution system from the extensive network of overhead cables. The issue has remained particularly important because of frequent electricity disruptions during storms, heavy rainfall and strong Kalbaishakhi winds.
Overhead electrical lines are often damaged when trees and branches fall during severe weather conditions. Such incidents frequently lead to power cuts, disruption of normal life and safety concerns for residents. In several localities, tangled cables and damaged electrical wires have also created additional risks.
The proposed underground network is expected to address these problems by protecting electricity distribution lines from direct exposure to storms, falling trees and other weather-related hazards. It will also improve the appearance of Agartala's urban landscape and reduce the vulnerability of the electricity distribution system.
The Rs 1,437-crore project is expected to cover the city's high-tension and low-tension distribution infrastructure, with modern technology being introduced to improve monitoring, maintenance and reliability.
Alongside the underground cabling project, the government is also moving ahead with the Utility-Led Aggregation project, which aims to provide free rooftop solar installations to approximately 1.5 lakh households across Tripura.
Under this initiative, households consuming less than 50 units of electricity per month will be identified for installation of one-kilowatt rooftop solar plants without any installation cost to the beneficiaries.
The programme aims to create an additional 150 MW of solar power generation capacity in the state.
The project is being implemented by TSECL under a utility-led model, with financial assistance of Rs 33,000 per household from the Union Ministry of Power. The remaining expenditure will be arranged through the State Government's budgetary support and assistance from the Asian Development Bank.
Beneficiary households will not be required to pay the installation expenses. However, each selected household will have to deposit a refundable security amount of Rs 1,000.
One of the most important features of the scheme is that TSECL will remain responsible for the operation and maintenance of the solar installations for the first ten years. During this period, beneficiaries are expected to receive approximately 100 units of electricity per month free of cost through their rooftop solar systems.
After the completion of the ten-year maintenance period, ownership of the solar installations will be transferred to the respective beneficiary households.
The initiative is expected to benefit economically weaker families who generally cannot afford the initial investment required for rooftop solar installations, even when government subsidies are available.
The scheme is being implemented in line with the objectives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, which seeks to encourage rooftop solar power generation and reduce household electricity expenditure.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha highlighted the transformation of Tripura's electricity infrastructure over the past eight years. He said that modernisation, technological improvements and renewable energy initiatives were strengthening the state's power sector.
The Chief Minister also emphasised that the two projects would contribute to improving the quality of electricity services while providing economic benefits to ordinary households.
Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath, Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor Dipak Majumder, Deputy Speaker of the Tripura Legislative Assembly Ramprasad Paul, MP Rajib Bhattacharjee, MLA Minarani Sarkar and other dignitaries attended the programme.
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