Patna: Bihar is looking to attract fresh investment and technical support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to strengthen its power infrastructure and speed up the transition to renewable energy, following high-level talks between state officials and the multilateral lender on Friday.
Manoj Kumar Singh, the state’s energy secretary and chairman-cum-managing director of Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited, met Sujata Gupta, ADB’s director for South Asia, and James Kolantharaj, the bank’s principal energy specialist, in Patna. The discussions centred on financing opportunities, modernisation of electricity networks and long-term development of the state’s energy ecosystem.
Officials said the meeting explored ways to expand Bihar’s power generation capacity while improving transmission and distribution systems that serve millions of consumers across the state. Strengthening grid reliability, upgrading infrastructure and attracting private and institutional investment were identified as key priorities.
Senior executives from state-run utilities including South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited, North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited, Bihar State Power Generation Company Limited and Bihar State Power Transmission Company Limited also attended the talks. The delegation reviewed ongoing projects and outlined future plans aimed at ensuring stable and affordable electricity supply.
The ADB team was briefed on the government’s broader roadmap, which includes scaling up renewable energy sources and promoting sustainable growth in the sector. Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation, with further engagement expected to mobilise funding and technical expertise to support Bihar’s expanding energy needs.
