Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath on 28 August detailed an extensive overhaul of the state's electricity infrastructure in the Tripura Legislative Assembly during the first day of its Monsoon session, outlining substation expansions, underground cabling, drone monitoring, and solar access initiatives aimed at delivering uninterrupted power supply — especially during adverse weather.

Substation Expansion and Grid Strengthening

The number of 132 kV substations in Tripura has risen from 12 to 21, with work on two more currently underway, Nath told the Assembly. The 33 kV substation count has similarly grown from 44 to 75, and another 18 are under construction. These additions form the backbone of the state's bid to reduce outages and handle increased electricity demand across districts.

Notably, a new tower line has been established in Gandacherra, a region that previously lacked such infrastructure — a signal that the expansion is reaching historically underserved areas.

Underground Cables and Storm-Resilient Networks

To minimise disruptions caused by rain and cyclonic weather, 408 km of underground cables have been laid across the state. In addition, 272 km of railway-related power connectivity work has been completed. The department has also installed 1,464 circuit kilometres of covered conductors to shield the network during storms, with another 360 km of covered conductor work in progress.

Work orders have been issued for live-line maintenance and the use of drone technology for infrastructure monitoring. The department is also working on establishing mobile substations to provide rapid-response power restoration. New technology has been introduced on the 79 Tilla Power Station–Rukhia corridor, with around 75 per cent of that work completed.

Solar Access and Tribal Electrification

The state has provided electricity connections to 11,692 Reang families who previously had no access to power. Under the central scheme PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, around 17,400 registrations have been recorded and 4,540 rooftop solar systems installed, generating approximately 15.5 MW of power.

The state government is also considering providing financial assistance for solar installations to around 1.5 lakh families in the first phase. Nath noted that nearly four lakh families in Tripura consume up to 50 units of electricity per month, making them prime beneficiaries of any subsidy-linked solar push.

Tariff Controversy and Government Response

Addressing criticism over rising electricity tariffs, Nath argued that the previous Left Front government had raised tariffs by 62 per cent in 2010 and by 116 per cent over its last eight years in office. By contrast, he said, the present government has increased tariffs by around 40 per cent over its eight years in power.

He clarified that tariff decisions are made by the Tripura Electricity Regulatory Commission, with the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) responsible for implementation. Following the latest tariff revision, Chief Minister Manik Saha intervened and the government decided to provide a 100 per cent subsidy on the additional tariff burden. Consumers who had already paid the higher amount will have the excess adjusted against future bills.

Smart Meters and Audit Concerns

Around four lakh consumers in Tripura have had smart meters installed, in line with a central government mandate being rolled out across multiple states. For comparison, Nath cited Himachal Pradesh at 43 per cent consumer coverage and Jammu and Kashmir at 73 per cent.

The Minister alleged that the smart-metering process in Tripura was initiated under the Left Front government in 2015 but was not effectively implemented. He further alleged that the Indian Audit and Accounts Department had flagged financial irregularities in a smart-meter work order worth around ₹80 crore. The state government, he reiterated, remains committed to protecting the interests of electricity consumers going forward.