The Parbati Hydroelectric Project (Stage-II), being developed by NHPC Limited, is an 800 MW run-of-the-river (RoR) power initiative located on the Beas River in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, approximately 260 km from Chandigarh. This project will harness the river in three stages: Stage I with 750 MW, Stage II with 800 MW, and Stage III with 501 MW.
For Stage II, the infrastructure includes an 85 m high concrete gravity dam and a 31.5 km long head race tunnel (HRT). This setup involves four Pelton turbine power generating units of 200 MW each, delivering an aggregate output of 800 MW. The plant is expected to generate approximately 3,108.66 million units (MUs) of power annually.
The generated electricity will be evacuated through the Parbati Koldam transmission line, benefitting states such as Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Chandigarh.
Construction milestones and progress
The trials of Unit I and Unit II commenced on March 31, 2017, and April 10, 2017, respectively. Units I and II were synchronized on July 29, 2017, and September 22, 2018, while the load throw-off test was successfully conducted on September 23, 2018.
In November 2019, bids were reinvited for the remaining civil works of the Manihar trench weir. The estimated cost for these works was Rs 28.98 million, and bids were finalized by December 12, 2019. However, work on the project was stalled during the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown but resumed on April 23, 2020.
In June 2022, Gammon Engineers and Contractors Private Limited secured a contract worth Rs 2.12 billion for the construction of 1,500 m of the HRT. On October 22, 2023, NHPC completed 13.18 km of the total 32 km HRT length. By November 2023, 9.05 km of the tunnel was constructed.
Project cost and associated contractors
The total estimated cost of the project stands at Rs 98.97 billion, translating to a cost of Rs 117.4 million per megawatt (MW).
Key contractors involved in the project include:
- Gammon India Limited: Responsible for mechanical excavation of shafts and related civil works.
- PES Engineers Private Limited: Sub-contractor for Gammon India, handling design, fabrication, and installation of pressure shaft liners.
- SEW Infrastructure Limited and Patel Engineering Limited: Managing civil and hydro-mechanical works for the dam and HRT.
- Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL): Handling electro-mechanical works.
- Valecha Engineering Limited: Overseeing civil works for the tunnel.
- Gammon Engineers and Contractors Private Limited: Executing HRT works
The latest Parliamentary discussion revealed that the project is expected to be completed by March 2025.
Photo credit: NHPC