Pakal Dul Hydroelectric Project in Kishtwar on track for timely completion

Ramban, Aug 2: The 1,000-megawatt Pakal Dul Hydroelectric Project in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district is steadily moving toward completion and remains on schedule, according to official sources.

Initiated in 2018, the project is being constructed on the Marusudar River, a tributary of the Chenab, and is slated for commissioning in 2026. As of May 2025, approximately 66 percent of the work has been completed.

In a major breakthrough last month, the Chenab Valley Power Projects Pvt. Ltd. (CVPPL) — a joint venture between NHPC Ltd. and the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) — announced a record 927 meters of tunnel boring, including tunnel lining, achieved in July.

The hydroelectric plant comprises two Head Race Tunnels (HRTs), each 7.35 kilometers long, with a total length of 14.7 km and an excavated diameter of 8.3 meters. Executed using Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), the tunneling progress has reached 8.1 kilometers so far, with work underway on the remaining 6.6 kilometers and other critical civil and electro-mechanical components.

Senior officials, including NHPC Chairman and Managing Director R.P. Goyal, CVPPL Chairman Suresh Kumar, and CVPPL Managing Director Ramesh Mukhiya, commended the project leadership — particularly Vishal Anand, Head of Project, and the implementation team from L\&T — for their sustained efforts and performance.

Designated as a Project of National Importance, the Pakal Dul hydropower initiative is expected to play a vital role in strengthening the energy security of the region while contributing to India’s renewable energy targets under the broader Indus Basin hydroelectric development framework.