The under-construction 2,880 MW Dibang Hydel Project in Arunachal Pradesh has crossed an important stage with the successful daylighting of one of its diversion tunnels, officials said on Wednesday.
The breakthrough of diversion tunnel-3 (DT-3) was completed on Tuesday after the final blast was carried out in the presence of NHPC project director Sanjay Kumar Singh. With this, a key part of the tunnel construction work has been achieved, paving the way for the next phase of river diversion activities.
Officials said the daylighting of DT-3 marks a crucial step in the overall construction schedule of the project. Diversion tunnels are built to temporarily divert the river flow so that the dam structure can be constructed safely. The successful completion of this stage is expected to help maintain the pace of work at the project site.
The Dibang Hydel Project is being developed by NHPC on the Dibang river in the Lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh. Once completed, it will be India’s largest hydropower project in terms of installed capacity. The project will generate 2,880 MW of electricity through 12 generating units of 240 MW each.
The project is expected to produce more than 11,000 million units of electricity every year. Apart from power generation, it will also serve as a major flood moderation and water storage project. The dam is expected to help regulate floods in the Brahmaputra basin and support water management in downstream areas.
Work on the project is continuing in phases, with authorities stating that each milestone brings the state closer to strengthening its power infrastructure and boosting regional development.
