Srinagar, Mar 18: The 330 MW Kishanganga Hydroelectric Power Station of NHPC Ltd has recorded its highest-ever cumulative power generation, crossing 1,506.52 million units (MUs) in the current financial year 2025–26, surpassing its previous best and setting a new benchmark since its commissioning in 2018.
The milestone was achieved on the intervening night of March 17–18, when the station’s cumulative generation overtook the earlier record of 1,505.97 MUs logged in 2021–22. With around two weeks still remaining in the financial year, officials expect the figure to rise further.
Speaking to Rising Kashmir, Head of Power Station and In-Charge General Manager Rajesh Ranjan said the plant had already entered its highest-ever generation phase.
“Around midnight on March 17, our cumulative generation crossed 1,506.52 million units, overtaking the previous record. With 14 days still left in the financial year, we expect this number to increase further,” he said.
Ranjan said the current performance reflects the station’s best output since commissioning and pointed to improved operational planning and execution. “We are focusing on running the station at optimum efficiency while strictly maintaining safety standards. The idea has been to maximise output without compromising safety,” Ranjan said.
He attributed the achievement to sustained coordination across teams, including planning, operations, maintenance and support units.
“This is the result of collective effort. Our planning team, our general managers Som Nath and Arun Kumar Soni, and the powerhouse team led by Shakti Prasad Rath have all contributed. Finance and HR teams have also played an important role,” he said.
The General Manager acknowledged the role of contract workers and ground-level staff, saying round-the-clock work has been central to maintaining output.
“Our teams are working 24×7, whether in operations or maintenance, to ensure maximum efficiency. Contract workers, township staff and internal support teams have all put in sustained effort to achieve this result,” he said.
Officials said the plant’s high availability during the year has helped maintain steady generation, even as hydroelectric operations in the region often face seasonal and operational constraints.
In a statement, NHPC credited the achievement to the leadership of Chairman and Managing Director Bhupender Gupta, with technical guidance from Director Suprakash Adhikari, and support from Executive Director (Region-Jammu) Ram Swaroop and Executive Director (O&M) Indradeo Prasad Ranjan.
Ranjan said the milestone has lifted morale within the station and set the stage for higher targets.
“This is an important achievement for us, but also a reminder that we need to set new benchmarks going forward,” he said.
Commissioned in 2018, the Kishanganga project is a key hydroelectric installation in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district and plays a significant role in meeting the region’s power demand. With the current trend, the station is set to close the financial year with its highest-ever generation.
