West Bengal Approves Three New Thermal Power Units, Eyes ₹30,000 Crore Investment
The West Bengal government has approved the construction of new thermal power generating units at three existing plants operated by the West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL): Sagardighi, Bakreswar and Santaldih. State Power Minister Aroop Biswas informed the Assembly that tendering is under way for two supercritical 800 MW units at Sagardighi, totalling 1,600 MW, along with a 660 MW unit at Bakreswar and a 660 MW unit at Santaldih.
Alongside the new generation capacity, the state is separately allocating ₹2,450 crore for modernisation of three existing thermal plants: Sagardighi (₹1,610 crore), Bandel (₹650 crore) and Kolaghat (₹190 crore).
The government is also expanding its renewable energy portfolio, with a 12.5 MW solar unit under development in Purulia, along with planned 20 MW solar units at Sagardighi and Santaldih and a 10 MW unit at Bakreswar. A 1,000 MW pumped storage hydro-electric power plant is also being planned for Purulia.
The new thermal capacity forms part of the state's broader plan to expand total power generation from around 9,521 MW to 13,689 MW across thermal, solar and hydel sources. The minister noted that West Bengal currently ranks 17th among Indian states on power tariff rates, at ₹7.12 per unit.
The expansion adds to recent large-scale power investments in the state, including JSW Energy's ₹16,000 crore, 1,600 MW ultra-supercritical greenfield thermal plant at Salboni in Paschim Medinipur district, marking the company's first entry into power generation in eastern India.