Agartala, November 26, 2025: Tripura has emerged as the fourth best state in the country in terms of electricity distribution, with an average daily supply of 23 hours and 49 minutes, Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath announced on Tuesday.

Speaking after the foundation-laying ceremony of the 120 MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Project at Rokhia in Sepahijala district, Nath said rural areas currently receive 23 hours and 43 minutes of power daily, while urban areas enjoy nearly uninterrupted supply at 23 hours and 59 minutes.

The minister noted that before the present government came to power, the state received only about 21 hours of electricity per day. “This improvement is reflected in the National Feeder Monitoring System (NFMS) report,” he said, adding that the department has worked tirelessly over the past seven and a half years to ensure uninterrupted and quality power supply.

Nath explained that the Rokhia gas-based thermal power station was built in six phases between 1990 and 2006, housing nine open-cycle gas turbine units. Of these, the first six units of 8 MW each have been decommissioned after exceeding their operational lifespan, with production ceasing between 2002 and 2013. The remaining three units, each of 21 MW capacity, currently generate only 19 MW due to gas shortages, despite a total installed capacity of 63 MW.

With financial support from the Asian Development Bank, the existing open-cycle units will be converted into a 120 MW combined-cycle system. “This will allow us to utilize waste heat to run steam turbines, raising efficiency from 35–45 percent to nearly 60 percent,” Nath said. The project, costing ₹1,320 crore, is expected to be completed within three years.

Highlighting steps to curb electricity theft, Nath said 13,435 km of aerial bunched (AB) cables have been installed across rural areas, compared to just 198 km earlier. Under the PM-Janman scheme, 11,692 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) Riang families have been provided electricity connections.

The minister revealed that the state, in collaboration with NHPC, is exploring the feasibility of an 800 MW pumped storage project at Chawmanu in Dhalai district. “If implemented, this will be the first pumped storage project in the Northeast and will significantly boost Tripura’s economic progress,” he said.

Nath also reported an improvement in bill payment compliance. Currently, 46.49 percent of consumers pay their monthly electricity bills regularly, up from 42.28 percent earlier. “This figure is steadily rising,” he added.