Odisha seeks early approval of Rs 3,069 crore for power upgrades

The Odisha government has requested early clearance of Rs 3,069 crore under the revamped distribution sector scheme (RDSS) to strengthen its power distribution system and reduce technical and commercial losses.

The proposed funding will support infrastructure modernisation, prepaid smart metering for consumers, and system-level metering. The plan aligns with RDSS goals to improve power reliability and cut losses nationwide.

As part of its submission, the state has proposed disaster-resilient infrastructure, including selective underground cabling within a 30 km coastal stretch. This follows recommendations from the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. Odisha has submitted a total proposal of Rs 6,284 crore under RDSS.

Of this, Rs 4,248 crore is allocated for cyclone-resilient infrastructure, Rs 1,510 crore for distribution system upgrades, Rs 428 crore for smart metering, and Rs 97 crore for project management.

Separately, Odisha has sought an additional 800 MW power allocation from the NLC Talabira Phase-II thermal power plant, in addition to the 400 MW already allocated in Phase-I. This would raise the state’s total share to 1,200 MW from the 3,200 MW project, aimed at enhancing energy security.