NHPC achieves full commissioning of 800 MW Parbati-II Hydroelectric Project, HP
NHPC Limited, India’s leading hydropower company, has successfully commenced commercial operations of all four units of the 800 MW Parbati-II Hydroelectric Project in Himachal Pradesh. The final unit became operational on April 16, 2025, completing the national project.
Located in the Kullu district, Parbati-II is a run-of-the-river project on the Parbati River. The first three units of 200 MW each began operations on April 1, 2025. The project features a concrete gravity dam near Village Pulga and a 31.56 km Head Race Tunnel (HRT)—the longest in India—channeling water to a powerhouse in the Sainj valley. The plant operates with a gross head of 863 meters, using four Pelton turbines of 200 MW each.
Parbati-II also boasts two inclined pressure shafts, each 1,545.5 meters long, recognized as the world’s longest of their kind constructed using Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM). Additional discharge from five local nallahs enhances water availability for power generation.
The project will provide Himachal Pradesh with 12% of the generated power free of cost, along with an additional 1% earmarked for local area development.
Originally inaugurated by then Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee on December 12, 1999, the project overcame several challenges, including tough geological conditions, flash floods, and cloudbursts. Despite delays, NHPC has completed the project at an estimated cost of ₹13,045 crore, compared to its original sanctioned cost of ₹3,919.59 crore.
The plant is expected to generate 3,074 million units (MU) of electricity annually and further augment the generation capacity of the nearby 520 MW Parbati-III Power Station by an additional 1,262 MU per year.
NHPC has also invested significantly in local development through the construction of 15 bridges and around 88 km of roads. Over ₹112 crore has been allocated for area development and ₹27.83 crore under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The project has supported 370 affected families, provided employment to 20 individuals, and hired 58 vehicles from locals.
Support for education and healthcare includes the operation of a Kendriya Vidyalaya at Sainj, benefiting 422 students (411 from the local area), and a ₹4 crore contribution towards the expansion of the Regional Hospital in Kullu.
With the commissioning of Parbati-II, NHPC’s total installed capacity has reached 8,140.04 MW, including 1,681.7 MW from joint ventures. Of this, 7,771.20 MW is from 23 hydropower stations and 368.84 MW from six solar and one wind project.
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