NHPC fully commissions 800 MW Parbati-II in Himachal

22 Apr 2025 CW Team

NHPC Ltd has fully commissioned the 800 MW Parbati Hydroelectric Project Stage-II in Himachal Pradesh, with the final 200 MW unit going live on April 16. The first three units began commercial operations on April 1.

The run-of-the-river project in Kullu features a concrete gravity dam near Pulga village and a 31.56 km head race tunnel—India’s longest—to channel water to a powerhouse in Sainj valley. Power is generated using four Pelton turbines of 200 MW each, harnessing a gross head of 863 metres.

The plant also includes two inclined pressure shafts of 1,545.5 metres each—the world’s longest built using tunnel boring machines. Water from five local nallahs further supports power generation.

Himachal Pradesh will receive 12 per cent of the generated power free of cost and another 1 per cent for local development. The plant is designed to generate 3,074 MUs annually and boost the nearby 520 MW Parbati-III’s output by 1,262 MUs.

Work on Parbati-II began in 1999 but was delayed due to tough terrain, flash floods, and cost escalations. The final project cost stands at Rs 130 billion, up from an initial Rs 39.19 billion.

As part of the project, NHPC built 15 bridges and 88 km of roads, and allocated Rs 1.12 billion for local development and Rs 278.3 million under CSR. It also supported 370 affected families, provided 20 permanent jobs, and helped run a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Sainj for 422 students—411 of whom are locals.

With this commissioning, NHPC’s total installed capacity rises to 8,140.04 MW, including 7,771.20 MW from 23 hydro plants and 368.84 MW from solar and wind projects.

Technology

28 Oct 2025

Building Faster, Smarter, and Greener!

Backed by ULCCS’s century-old legacy, U-Sphere combines technology, modular design and sustainable practices to deliver faster and more efficient projects. In an interaction with CW, Rohit Prabhakar, Director - Business Development, shares how the company’s integrated model of ‘Speed-Build’, ‘Smart-Build’ and ‘Sustain-Build’ is redefining construction efficiency, quality and environmental responsibility in India.U-Sphere positions itself at the intersection of speed, sustainability and smart design. How does this translate into measurable efficiency on the ground?At U..

Smart Roads, Smarter India

India’s infrastructure boom is not only about laying more kilometres of highways – it’s about building them smarter, safer and more sustainably. From drones mapping fragile Himalayan slopes to 3D machine-controlled graders reducing human error, technology is steadily reshaping the way projects are planned and executed. Yet, the journey towards digitisation remains complex, demanding not just capital but also coordination, training and vision.Until recently, engineers largely depended on Survey of India toposheets and traditional survey methods like total stations or DGPS to prepare detai..

What Does DCPR 2034 Mean?

The Maharashtra government has eased approval norms for high-rise buildings under DCPR 2034, enabling the municipal commissioner to sanction projects up to 180 m on large plots. This change is expected to streamline approvals, reduce procedural delays and accelerate redevelopment, drawing reactions from developers, planners and industry experts about its implications for Mumbai’s vertical growth.Under the revised DCPR 2034 rules, buildings on plots of 2,000 sq m or more can now be approved up to 180 m by the municipal commissioner, provided structural and geotechnical reports are certified b..