Under-Construction Dibang Hydel Project Achieves Key Milestone in Arunachal Pradesh

The under-construction 2,880 MW Dibang hydel project in Arunachal Pradesh has reached a significant milestone with the successful daylighting of Diversion Tunnel-3 (DT-3) , officials said on Wednesday. The final blast marking the breakthrough of DT-3 was carried out on Tuesday under the supervision of Sanjay Kumar Singh , Director (Projects) at NHPC Limited , the project developer.

The breakthrough of DT-3 is a critical step in the river diversion works , which are essential for subsequent construction activities of the dam. Officials described the daylighting of the tunnel as an important phase in the overall execution plan, enabling smooth civil engineering operations and ensuring controlled river flow for the remaining construction work.

The project, located on the Dibang River in the Lower Dibang Valley district, is set to have an installed capacity of 2,880 MW through 12 units of 240 MW each. Once completed, it is expected to generate over 11,000 million units of electricity annually , significantly contributing to the regional and national power grid .

Apart from electricity generation, the Dibang hydel project will serve as a major flood moderation and water storage initiative , helping regulate floods in the Brahmaputra basin and ensuring water availability for irrigation and other needs in the region.

Officials highlighted that the project is among India’s largest hydropower initiatives and will play a key role in meeting the country’s renewable energy targets while enhancing flood management and water security in northeastern India. The successful completion of DT-3 marks a major achievement for NHPC and is expected to accelerate the project’s construction timeline.