The Sidrapong Hydroelectric Power Station, located near Darjeeling, West Bengal, holds the distinction of being India’s first hydroelectric power plant. Commissioned on November 10, 1897, it was established to supply electricity to the town of Darjeeling.
The project was initiated by the Municipal Commissioners of Darjeeling on February 11, 1896, with the objective of lighting the town. A government loan of ₹1 lakh (100,000 rupees) was secured, and a site at the foot of the Arya Tea Estate in Sidrapong was selected. The Maharajah of Burdwan generously handed over his orchard for this public interest project. Despite the challenges posed by inadequate road communication, all machinery and equipment were imported from Britain and transported manually to the site.
The initial installation comprised two 65 kW Crompton-Brunton single-phase alternators, each coupled with a Gunther’s turbine, operating at 2,300 volts and 83.3 Hz. The total initial cost of the power station was approximately ₹1.2 lakhs (120,000 rupees). In its early years, the station operated at a loss due to limited consumers. However, as demand increased, additional capacity was added: a 135 kW set in 1905 and another in 1909. A new power house, known as the Jubilee Power House, was constructed in 1916 at a higher elevation. By this time, the station’s capacity had grown from 130 kW to 1,000 kW.
Over the years, the station underwent several upgrades to meet the growing demand and to modernize its operations. In 1931, the system was updated from single-phase 83 Hz to three-phase 50 Hz, replacing old machines with new 200 kW units. The West Bengal State Electricity Board (WBSEB) took over the station on January 30, 1978, and managed it until the early 1990s, when it was considered for conversion into a heritage site.
Today, the Sidrapong Hydroelectric Power Station stands as a testament to India’s pioneering efforts in harnessing hydroelectric energy and is recognized as a heritage site, reflecting its historical significance in the country’s electrification journey.
