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.