Burla: TP Western Odisha Distribution Limited (TPWODL) on Thursday launched its ‘Solar Rath’ in Sambalpur to promote awareness and adoption of rooftop solar under the Centre’s PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The Solar Rath was flagged off by Sambalpur MP and former Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on the auspicious occasion of Lord Vishwakarma Jayanti.
Joining the MP at the flag-off were Siddheshwar Baliram Bondar, Collector & District Magistrate of Sambalpur; Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo, Superintendent of Police of Sambalpur; Rehan Khatri, Commissioner, Sambalpur Municipal Corporation; and Parveen Kumar Verma, CEO, TPWODL.
The launch comes as TPWODL crosses 61,000 rooftop solar installations across its nine-district operational footprint in Western Odisha. The company has recorded 61,729 installations to date, comprising 35,829 under the CAPEX model and 25,900 under the Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) model. Nuapada leads the region with 10,489 installations.
Speaking on the occasion, Dharmendra Pradhan said, “Rooftop solar is an essential step towards empowering households with clean, self-sustaining energy while contributing to India’s broader renewable energy goals. The Solar Rath will bring information on the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana closer to people and encourage greater participation at the grassroots level.”
Siddheshwar Baliram Bondar said, “The Solar Rath will take information on rooftop solar directly into communities, helping consumers understand the support and process available to them. Such outreach can encourage wider adoption of sustainable energy solutions.”
The Solar Rath will travel across TPWODL’s operational geography, visiting villages, marketplaces and other prominent public locations to provide information on the PM Surya Ghar scheme, eligibility, subsidies, application procedures and rooftop solar solutions.
A key feature of the campaign is ‘Solar Sanga’ (Solar Buddy), who will accompany the Rath and engage with consumers to explain the schemes and guide them on rooftop solar adoption. TPWODL’s ‘Solar Didis’ — women SHG members and grassroots solar champions — will further strengthen the campaign through door-to-door awareness and community engagement.
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Parveen Kumar Verma, CEO, TPWODL, said, “Surpassing 61,000 rooftop solar installations reflects the growing adoption of clean energy across Western Odisha. With the Solar Rath, Solar Sanga and Solar Didis, we are taking information and guidance directly to communities and helping consumers make informed choices about rooftop solar.”
The Solar Rath is part of TPWODL’s continued efforts to strengthen grassroots awareness and accelerate rooftop solar adoption across Western Odisha, supporting the region’s transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
