Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch power projects worth Rs 28,978 crore in Odisha during his visit to the state on February 3.

The power projects include NTPC’s Darlipali Super Thermal Power Station (2x800 MW), NSPCL Rourkela PP-II Expansion Project (1x250 MW), and laying of the foundation stone of NTPC Talcher Thermal Power Project, Stage-III (2x660 MW). The total investment of all the power projects comes to around Rs 28,978 crore.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, NTPC’s regional executive director, (Eastern Region I Patna & II Bhubaneswar), Sudip Nag spoke on the upcoming projects to be flagged off by the Prime Minister.

NTPC’s Darlipali STPP in Sundergarh district is a pit-head power station with supercritical (highly efficient) technology. It is supplying low-cost power to its beneficiary states, such as Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Gujarat and Sikkim.

The 250MW project of NTPC-SAIL Power Company Ltd is established in Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) to provide reliable power for the steel plant which is vital for economic growth.

Further, NTPC is developing the Talcher Thermal Power Project, Stage-III within old TTPS plant premises in the Angul district of Odisha, which was taken over by NTPC from the Odisha State Electricity Board in 1995. The old TTPS plant was decommissioned after completing more than 50 years of service to the Nation.

“The upcoming plant will have highly efficient Ultra Super Critical Technology based units and approximately three times the capacity of the old TTPS plant. While 50 per cent capacity from this project is dedicated to Odisha, other beneficiary states such as Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Assam will also get low-cost power from this pit-head station,” Nag said.

This project is being constructed with all modern environmental features like efficient electrostatic precipitator, flue gas desulphurization, bio-mass cofiring, and covered storage space for coal and will thus help in lesser Specific Coal Consumption and CO2 emissions.

Besides creating direct and indirect employment opportunities in the region, these projects have contributed to the improvement of physical infrastructure such as approach roads, drainage, transportation and communication facilities. Various community development initiatives are also being undertaken by NTPC in the surrounding villages in the fields of education, drinking water, sanitation, health, women empowerment, rural sports, etc. The NTPC has also set up a medical college and hospital in Sundargarh.

The press conference was also graced by among others Diwakar Kaushik, CEO, NSPCL, Gautam Deb, executive director, Talcher Thermal, Harjit Singh, ED, director, corporate communications, New Delhi, and Veerandra Singh, regional officer, NHAI.