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Tata Power Rolls Out Odisha’s First ‘Solar Rath’ to Boost Rooftop Solar Adoption Under PM Surya Ghar Scheme

Tata Power has launched Odisha's first-ever Solar Rath, a mobile public awareness campaign designed to accelerate rooftop solar adoption under the Government of India's PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. Introduced through TP Central Odisha Distribution Limited (TPCODL)—the joint venture between Tata Power and the Government of Odisha—the initiative aims to bring reliable information on rooftop solar directly to households by travelling through villages, marketplaces, and public gathering points across the state.

Inspired by the spirit of Odisha's iconic Rath Yatra festival, the Solar Rath will initially cover Puri and Dhenkanal, taking clean energy awareness to communities through interactive outreach programmes. Accompanying the campaign is Solar Sanga, Tata Power's dedicated outreach ambassador, who will educate residents about rooftop solar technology, the benefits of the PM Surya Ghar scheme, available central and state government subsidies, eligibility requirements, the online application process, and suitable solar system configurations, including the 1 kW ULA (Utility-Led Aggregation) model for residential consumers.

The initiative builds on Odisha's impressive progress under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The state was recently recognised among the country's top-performing states in the PM Surya Ghar Excellence Awards in the medium consumer base category, reflecting strong performance in consumer registrations, rooftop solar installations, and technical inspections carried out by distribution companies. Tata Power-led distribution utilities, working in partnership with the Government of Odisha, have played a significant role in driving this momentum.

According to the company, more than 1.5 lakh rooftop solar systems have already been commissioned across Odisha through the efforts of Tata Power-managed DISCOMs. Several districts have crossed the milestone of 10,000 rooftop installations, while a growing number of villages are progressing towards becoming fully solar-powered communities. These installations are helping households lower electricity expenses, generate their own clean energy, and contribute surplus electricity to the grid through net metering where applicable.

Commenting on the launch, Gajanan S. Kale, CEO of TPCODL and Chief of Odisha Distribution Business, said the Solar Rath reflects the spirit of taking knowledge and opportunity directly to the people. He noted that the campaign aims to simplify rooftop solar adoption by providing consumers with accurate information on financial assistance, installation procedures, and the long-term economic and environmental benefits of generating electricity from solar energy.

The initiative also aligns with the objectives of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, launched by the Government of India to encourage rooftop solar adoption in one crore households nationwide. The scheme provides central financial assistance for residential rooftop solar installations and seeks to reduce electricity bills, expand distributed renewable energy capacity, and enable households to become clean energy producers. By combining awareness campaigns with on-ground consumer engagement, initiatives such as the Solar Rath are expected to improve participation, especially in semi-urban and rural regions where awareness remains a key factor in accelerating rooftop solar deployment.

As India continues to expand its renewable energy capacity, distribution companies are increasingly focusing on consumer education alongside infrastructure development. Mobile outreach initiatives like the Solar Rath not only bridge information gaps but also support the country's broader goals of increasing distributed solar generation, strengthening energy security, and advancing the transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable electricity ecosystem.