Odisha Clears 600 MW Upper Indravati Storage Project

On 9 November 2026, the Odisha Cabinet approved the 600 MW Upper Indravati Pumped Storage Project at Ranibahal in Kalahandi district. It was one of 13 proposals cleared by the Cabinet.

Project cost and timeline

The project has a stated total expenditure of ₹4,708.64 crore, including ₹3,371.88 crore for construction. Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd has been selected as the project developer. Commissioning is targeted by the 2030–31 financial year.

Officials estimate the facility will generate approximately 1,040 million units of annual peak electricity. It is planned as a grid-scale energy storage system: it will use surplus electricity during off-peak hours to pump water and generate power when demand peaks.

Important Facts for Exams

• Reservoir types: Pumped-storage schemes include closed-loop plants with no natural reservoir inflows and pump-back plants whose upper reservoirs are partly replenished by rivers or streams.
• Reversible equipment: Pumped-storage plants usually use reversible turbine-generator assemblies, which can pump water uphill and generate electricity as water flows back down.
• Grid response: Pumped-storage plants can respond to load changes within seconds and provide services including frequency regulation, spinning reserve and load following.