NEW DELHI — In a milestone for Uttarakhand’s hydro power infrastructure, state-run THDC India Limited (THDCIL) has successfully completed the site lowering of the 210-tonne hydrogenerator rotor for Unit-1 at its 444 MW (4×111 MW) Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydro Electric Project (VPHEP).
The precision engineering feat clears a major technical bottleneck for the run-of-the-river project located on the Alaknanda River.
Critical Engineering Parameters & Next Steps
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Rotor Assembly: The 210-tonne rotor—a core component of the hydrogenerator—was fully assembled directly at the project site before being lowered into the generator pit.
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Immediate Operational Focus: Project engineers will now initiate the installation and assembly of the top shaft and upper bracket.
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Alignment & Centering: Subsequent technical steps involve precise multi-axis alignment, centering, and leveling prior to the final box-up of the Unit-1 generator.
Project Leadership Remarks
Highlighting the achievement, Sipan Kumar Garg, Managing Director of THDCIL, commended the execution team:
“The successful lowering of the Unit-1 rotor is a landmark achievement for VPHEP. The technical expertise and coordinated efforts of the project team maintain strong momentum toward successful commissioning.”
Executive Directors Kumar Sharad (Projects) and Ajay Verma (VPHEP), alongside senior general managers Ravindra Singh Rana and B. S. Pundir, confirmed that the milestone positions Unit-1 on a firm path toward electro-mechanical completion and eventual grid synchronization.

