NHPC Limited is pressing ahead with a major expansion of India’s hydropower capacity, with eight large projects totalling 8,514 MW currently under construction across Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. According to updated figures available through October 2025, the state-owned hydropower developer and its joint venture and subsidiary companies have already commissioned 23 projects with a cumulative capacity of 7,771 MW. These operational stations together generated 29,894 million units in 2022–23, 26,056 million units in 2023–24, 25,194 million units in 2024–25, and 23,015 million units between April and October of the current fiscal year.
The new projects, three directly under NHPC and five being executed through joint ventures represent a substantial addition to India’s clean energy portfolio. In Arunachal Pradesh, NHPC is constructing the 2,000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project, designed to produce 7,422 million units annually and expected to cost ₹27,948 crore, with commissioning targeted for December 2026. Also underway is the Dibang Multipurpose Project, one of India’s largest hydropower initiatives, set to deliver 2,880 MW of capacity and 11,223 million units of design energy. With an anticipated cost of ₹31,876 crore, the project is scheduled for completion in February 2032. In Sikkim, the 500 MW Teesta-VI Hydroelectric Project, designed to generate 2,400 million units annually at a cost of ₹8,449 crore, is projected to be commissioned by September 2029. Together, these NHPC-led projects account for 5,380 MW, 21,045 million units of design energy and ₹68,273 crore in anticipated investment.
Additional capacity is being developed by NHPC’s joint venture and subsidiary companies. In Sikkim, the 120 MW Rangit-IV project, implemented by JPCL, has a design energy of 508 million units, a projected cost of ₹1,889 crore and an expected commissioning date of April 2026.
In Jammu & Kashmir, RHPCL is constructing the 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Project, designed to produce 3,137 million units, at an estimated cost of ₹5,282 crore with a commissioning target of November 2028. Three major projects are being built by CVPPL: the 1,000 MW Pakal Dul project with a design energy of 3,230 million units and a cost estimate of ₹12,728 crore scheduled for completion in December 2026; the 624 MW Kiru project with 2,272 million units of design energy and costs of ₹5,409 crore, also expected by December 2026; and the 540 MW Kwar project with a design energy of 1,975 million units, costing ₹4,526 crore and targeted for March 2028. Collectively, these JV and subsidiary projects total 3,134 MW of capacity, 11,122 million units of design energy and ₹29,834 crore in spending.
Beyond expanding India’s power infrastructure, NHPC emphasized its socioeconomic role in project regions. Local residents, including Project Affected Families, are employed through contractors, providing income opportunities and supporting local economies. The corporation also facilitates bidding opportunities for residents and PAFs to promote entrepreneurship and strengthen community-led businesses.
