Patna, Jan 2: Bihar’s power distribution companies have issued a tender for developing 275 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar projects under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, amid the state’s slow progress in rooftop solar installations.
South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (SBPDCL), a Government of Bihar undertaking, has invited online bids from eligible agencies, firms, companies and state or central government undertakings for the project.
The tender has been issued on behalf of both SBPDCL and North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (NBPDCL), with bids open until January 29, 2026.
The proposed rooftop solar installations will have individual plant capacities starting from 1.1 kW and are expected to cover up to 2.5 lakh Kutir Jyoti households across the state.
The projects will be implemented across nine circles of SBPDCL and nine circles of NBPDCL under the Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) model of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, using a mix of CAPEX and RESCO modes.
Despite the central government’s push, Bihar remains among the poorest-performing states under the scheme. So far, the state has received 54,973 applications, of which only 14,283 installations have been completed, resulting in an installed capacity of 51.33 MW. Subsidies amounting to ₹102.27 crore have been released.
Bihar’s performance lags behind national expectations, accounting for less than one per cent of total applications and under 0.75 per cent of installations, despite the state being home to over nine per cent of India’s population. Punjab, another low-performing state, has recorded 10,792 installations with a capacity addition of 49.02 MW and subsidies worth ₹76.6 crore.
Officials said the latest tender is aimed at accelerating rooftop solar adoption in both South and North Bihar and could open up significant opportunities for solar developers, EPC companies and RESCO players.
The initiative is expected to play a key role in improving Bihar’s renewable energy footprint while providing affordable electricity to households under the PM Surya Ghar scheme.
