Patna: North Bihar is set to witness a significant upgrade in its electricity infrastructure, with 68 new substations approved for construction by the North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (NBPDCL), as the region grapples with rising power demand driven by industrial expansion, agricultural growth and an increasing number of domestic consumers.
The initiative, aimed at ensuring reliable and quality electricity supply across the region, includes 30 substations under the Centre’s Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) and 38 under the Bihar State Plan. Together, the projects have been tendered at Rs 763 crore, with final approvals coming in at Rs 757 crore — a cost saving of 1.5% attributed to efficient financial planning.
NBPDCL Managing Director Dr Nilesh Ramchandra Deore has directed officials to expedite land demarcation and begin construction without delay. Land has already been allocated for all 68 sites by respective district administrations.
The push comes as NBPDCL provided over 7.5 lakh new electricity connections in 2024–25. Of these, 1.25 lakh were commercial and nearly 9,000 industrial, marking a steady expansion of the power network to support economic development. Domestic consumers, too, are benefiting from more responsive and transparent service delivery, the company said.
Agriculture remains a priority, with around 77,000 new connections issued under the Mukhyamantri Krishi Vidyut Sambandh Yojana. The state government scheme offers free electricity connections for farmers, subsidies of up to 92% on tariffs and dedicated agricultural feeders to ensure uninterrupted supply.
The substations are expected to reduce load imbalance, prevent outages and bring uninterrupted electricity to remote rural areas, farming communities and fast-growing industrial and commercial zones. NBPDCL said the move will drive long-term regional development and strengthen the energy backbone of North Bihar.
