NTPC’s 520 MW Tapovan-Vishnugad Hydro Electric Project is a run-of-river scheme located in Uttarakhand. The plant will feature four turbines, each with a capacity of 130 MW, bringing the total installed capacity to 520 MW. Key project components include a barrage across the Dhauliganga River near Tapovan and Bhangual village, a 5.6 m diameter and 11.71 km long head race tunnel, a 513 m tailrace tunnel, and an underground powerhouse.
The project is designed to generate 2,418 GWh of electricity annually upon completion. Beneficiaries include Uttarakhand, other northern states, and Union Territories, with Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh among the main recipients of the power supply. Additionally, Uttarakhand will receive 12% of the generated electricity as free power.
Project Development and Challenges
The contract for constructing the head race tunnel (HRT) was initially awarded to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) but terminated in January 2014. NTPC re-invited bids in May 2015, awarding the contract in March 2016 to Hindustan Construction Company Limited (HCC) for Rs 6.35 billion. HCC’s responsibilities include salvaging and refurbishing a double-shield tunnel boring machine, constructing a 2.84 km tunnel with segmental lining, and completing a 1.66 km tunnel using drill-and-blast methods.
In January 2023, the district administration of Chamoli halted construction due to damage to nearby households, attributed to tunnelling activities and the Helang Bypass. Subsequently, in May 2023, the Uttarakhand High Court allowed NTPC to resume civil works on the tunnel.
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) cleared the project for subsidence concerns in Joshimath town in September 2023.
In April 2024, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) invited bids for balance work involving material handling, erection, and testing, with three firms submitting proposals.
In July 2024, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) lifted its objection to resuming construction, which had been stalled since January 2023.
Photo credits: CEA, NTPC