Union Minister of Power, Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Manohar Lal on Tuesday inaugurated the commercial operation of Unit–2 (250 MW) of the 2,000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project through virtual mode. Describing the milestone as “not just a technical achievement, but a testament to years of hard work, dedication, and teamwork,” the Minister said the project reflects India’s commitment to clean and sustainable energy, supports the growth of the North-East, strengthens the national grid and advances the country’s Net Zero goals.
The event was attended by Secretary (Power) Shri Pankaj Agarwal, NHPC Chairman and Managing Director Shri Bhupender Gupta, and senior officials of the Ministry of Power and NHPC.
Shri Pankaj Agarwal praised NHPC for the achievement, noting that the Subansiri Lower Project will significantly enhance energy supply in the North-East and demonstrate India’s capability in developing state-of-the-art sustainable power systems. He stressed the importance of timely commissioning of the remaining units, highlighting the project’s key role in India’s transition to a Net Zero energy future and its socio-economic benefits for local communities.
Shri Bhupender Gupta expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Power, the Governments of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, former NHPC leadership, the project team and all stakeholders for their support. He said the project would strengthen the national grid, promote sustainable development in the North-East and provide reliable renewable energy to meet rising demand.
With the commissioning of Unit–2, the project is set to commission three more 250 MW units shortly, followed by phased commissioning of the remaining four units during 2026–27. Once fully operational, the 2,000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project India’s largest hydropower project will significantly boost the country’s renewable energy capacity and grid resilience.
The run-of-the-river project with small pondage consists of eight units of 250 MW each and is designed to generate 7,422 million units of renewable electricity annually. It features the largest dam in North-East India a 116-metre-high concrete gravity dam which also aids flood moderation and water management in the Subansiri River basin.
The project showcases major engineering achievements, including India’s heaviest hydro generator rotors, largest stators, biggest main inlet valves, the country’s largest aggregate processing plants, highest-capacity batching plant and the first-ever use of Rotec’s Tower Belt for dam concreting in India. As the first cascaded dam on the Subansiri River, it provides a flood cushion of 442 million cubic metres, with one-third of its gross reservoir storage of 1,365 million cubic metres kept empty during floods to protect downstream areas.
NHPC has undertaken extensive riverbank protection and erosion control works along up to 60 km downstream of the Subansiri River at an investment of about ₹522 crore, stabilising riverbanks for over five years. It is also supporting downstream livelihood programmes in piggery, sericulture and handloom, benefiting around 5,000 women farmers.
The project will supply power to 16 beneficiary states, provide free power to Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, and allocate 1,000 MW to the North-East region, significantly improving regional energy availability.
During construction, around 7,000 local people were engaged daily, generating substantial direct and indirect employment. The availability of continuous power is expected to spur small-scale industries, reduce outmigration, boost tourism and improve river navigation, contributing to long-term regional development.
NHPC has invested about ₹155 crore in CSR initiatives in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, including construction of 3,129 toilets under Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyaan, establishment of a Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya at Dollungmukh, drinking water facilities at 1,841 locations, RO water and sanitation at nine sites, and multiple rural infrastructure projects.
Over the past five decades, NHPC has executed hydropower projects in challenging terrains and diversified into solar, wind and green hydrogen. With an installed capacity of 8,333 MW from 30 power stations and 14 projects of 9,704 MW under construction, NHPC continues to play a key role in India’s clean energy transition and national energy security.
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