Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurates Rs 28,978 Crore Electricity Projects in Odisha

On February 3, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate electricity projects valued at Rs 28,978 crore in Odisha.

The power projects include the laying of the foundation stone for the NTPC Talcher Thermal Power Project, Stage-III (2x660 MW), the NSPCL Rourkela PP-II Expansion Project (1x250 MW), and the NTPC Darlipali Super Thermal Power Station (2x800 MW). The sum of money invested in all of the power plants is around Rs 28,978 crore.

NTPC's regional executive director for Eastern Region I Patna & II Bhubaneswar, Sudip Nag, discussed the impending projects that the prime minister would unveil at a press conference held here on Thursday.

In the Sundergarh area, NTPC operates the supercritical (very efficient) Darlipali STPP, a pit-head power plant. Beneficiary states like Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Sikkim are receiving inexpensive electricity from it.

The Rourkela Steel factory (RSP) created the 250MW project of NTPC-SAIL electricity Company Ltd. to provide steady electricity to the steel factory, which is essential for economic development.

Additionally, NTPC is working on the Talcher Thermal Power Project, Stage-III on the site of the former TTPS plant in the Odisha district of Angul. NTPC acquired the site from the Odisha State Electricity Board in 1995. After providing the country with more than 50 years of service, the old TTPS facility was deactivated.

"The new facility will have around three times the capacity of the previous TTPS factory and will have units based on Ultra Super Critical Technology, which is very efficient. While Odisha would get 50% of the project's capacity, other states that will benefit, including Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Assam, will also receive inexpensive electricity from this pit-head plant, according to Nag.

This project will contribute to lower specific coal consumption and CO2 emissions since it is being built with all the contemporary environmental characteristics, such as an effective electrostatic precipitator, flue gas desulphurization, biomass cofiring, and covered coal storage area.

These initiatives have improved the physical infrastructure in the area, including approach roads, drainage, transportation, and communication facilities, in addition to producing direct and indirect job possibilities. In the nearby villages, NTPC is also working on a number of community development projects related to women's empowerment, rural sports, drinking water, sanitation, health, and education. In Sundargarh, the NTPC has also established a hospital and medical college.

Diwakar Kaushik, CEO of NSPCL, Gautam Deb, executive director of Talcher Thermal, Harjit Singh, ED, director of corporate communications, New Delhi, and Veerandra Singh, regional officer of NHAI, were among the others who attended the press conference.