Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on May 19, 2026, directed officials to speed up the timely completion of ongoing infrastructure projects while maintaining quality standards and to expand solar energy generation and use across Agartala and other urban areas of the state. He made the remarks while chairing a high-level review of the Power, Drinking Water and Sanitation Departments at the TIFT Conference Hall, focusing on works under the Agartala Municipal Corporation and other urban local bodies.
Saha asked officials to map areas vulnerable to anti-social activity and to install solar-powered high-mast lights to improve public safety and security. He stressed that infrastructure rollout must meet both schedule and quality benchmarks while supporting clean-energy goals for urban Tripura.
The meeting was attended by Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath, Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, Secretary Abhishek Singh and senior departmental officials. Representatives of the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) briefed the gathering on recent and ongoing power-sector upgrades.
TSECL said 27 new 33 kV substations and associated 11 kV ring main units were commissioned between 2023 and March 2026 with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Work on 156 kilometres of underground transmission lines, 540 kilometres of covered conductors and 347 kilometres of LT AB (low-tension aerial bundled) cables is nearing completion at an estimated cost of Rs 264.75 crore.
Officials added that a major project in Agartala-covering underground transmission lines, a smart grid control centre and new substations-has begun and is estimated at about Rs 1,500 crore. Smart-meter rollouts were also reported: installation of 1.2 lakh meters in AMC areas and 30,000 meters in Mohanpur Municipal Council are underway under ADB-funded projects, with roughly 70% complete, while an additional 1.8 lakh meters are being fitted across urban areas under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).
Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, solar panels have been installed at District Magistrate offices in all eight districts. Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath said 2,845 solar units have been installed in urban areas so far and subsidies totalling Rs 53.61 crore have been disbursed; the government aims to equip nearly 1.5 lakh urban households with solar panels.
Tripura Power Transmission Limited (TPTL) told the meeting that, under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment Scheme, steps such as live-line maintenance systems and drone monitoring are being deployed to ensure uninterrupted supply. The Chief Minister also asked officials to study the feasibility of providing alternative solar-based power supply in Matabari.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/tripura/story/tripura-cm-reviews-urban-power-water-projects-pushes-solar-expansion-in-agartala-1394418-2026-05-19?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-05-19 19:37:00
