Fifty-two border villages in Uttarakhand will soon be connected to the national power grid, ensuring round-the-clock electricity supply and reducing their reliance on solar power, an official from the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) said on Wednesday.

The project includes 20 villages in Darma Valley, 18 in Vyas Valley, and 14 in Johar Valley, all located along the India-China border. For years, these communities have depended primarily on solar panels or electricity generated through micro-projects managed by the Uttarakhand Renewable Electricity Development Agency.

Narendra Singh Tolia, Chief Engineer of UPCL’s Rudrapur zone, confirmed that the Central Government has sanctioned Rs 1.31 billion for the initiative. The tender process has been completed, with a project completion timeline of 18 months.