Chandigarh, Dec 28 (IANS) A greenfield thermal power project, completed ahead of schedule and expected to generate power at the lowest rates in the country, will provide additional 600 MW to Haryana after it is synchronised Tuesday.
Built in 35 months, compared to 39-42 months that such projects normally take to be set up, the Rajiv Gandhi Thermal Power Project (RGTPP) at Khedar in Hisar district, 300 km from here, will be synchronised by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

This will be the first phase (600 MW) of the 1,200 MW power project, which, once completed, will cost nearly Rs.4,300 crore.

Haryana Power Generation Corp managing director Sanjeev Kaushal said consistent generation of 600 MW of power would take more than a month to achieve.

“A greenfield project of this size takes at least 39 and 42 months for commissioning. However, for the Hisar project, an aggressive commissioning schedule of 35 and 38 months was envisaged. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs.4,297 crore,” Kaushal said.

The foundation stone of the project was laid by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh May 19, 2007.

“The (generation) cost of Rs.3.19 crore per megawatt is the lowest in the country and is being talked about as a new benchmark,” he added.

With the commissioning of both units, Haryana will be able to provide additional 288 lakh units of electricity per day to consumers.