NHPC commences power generation from all 4 units of 800 MW Parbati-II Hydroelectric project

New Delhi: NHPC Limited, India’s premier hydropower company, has successfully commenced commercial operation of all four units of the 800 MW Parbati Hydroelectric Project, Stage-II, in Himachal Pradesh. The final unit was declared commercially operational on April 16, marking the completion of the ambitious national project.

The first three units of the project, each with a capacity of 200 MW, began commercial operation earlier on April 1, 2025. Located in the Kullu district, the run-of-the-river scheme is a significant addition to India’s renewable energy portfolio.

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Constructed on the river Parbati, the project features a concrete gravity dam near Village Pulga and a 31.56 km long Head Race Tunnel (HRT) — the longest in India — which channels water to a powerhouse in Sainj valley. The project harnesses a gross head of 863 meters between Pulga and Siund village to generate power using four Pelton turbines of 200 MW each.

The Parbati-II project also includes two inclined pressure shafts, each 1,545.5 meters long, recognized as the world’s longest of their kind excavated with Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM). The discharge from five local nallahs further enhances the water availability for power generation.

With its commissioning, the state of Himachal Pradesh will receive 12% of the generated power free of cost, along with an additional 1 percent to be used for local area development initiatives.

Originally inaugurated by then Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee on December 12, 1999, the project faced multiple challenges, including extreme geological conditions, flash floods, and cloudbursts. Despite the hurdles, NHPC successfully delivered the project, which now stands completed at an estimated cost of Rs 13,045 crore, against an initial sanctioned cost of Rs 3,919.59 crore.

The project is designed to generate 3,074 million units (MU) of electricity annually. Additionally, its commissioning is expected to augment the generation capacity of the nearby 520 MW Parbati-III Power Station by 1,262 MU per year.

NHPC has also undertaken extensive local development as part of the project. This includes construction of 15 bridges and approximately 88 km of roads. Over Rs 112 crore has been allocated for local area development, along with Rs 27.83 crore under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Employment and livelihood support have also been a focus — with 370 project-affected families receiving assistance, 58 vehicles hired from local families, and permanent employment provided to 20 project-affected individuals.

NHPC has also supported education and healthcare infrastructure, including the operation of a Kendriya Vidyalaya at Sainj, benefiting 422 students (of whom 411 belong to the local area), and contributing Rs 4 crore for expansion of the Regional Hospital building at Kullu.

With the commissioning of Parbati-II, NHPC’s total installed capacity now stands at 8,140.04 MW, which includes 1,681.7 MW through joint ventures. Of this, 7,771.20 MW is from 23 hydropower stations, while 368.84 MW comes from six solar and one wind power project.

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