In a major push for renewable energy and social welfare, the Andhra Pradesh government has set an ambitious March 2026 deadline to complete one of India's largest targeted rooftop solar programmes. Chief Secretary K Vijayanand issued the directive during a comprehensive review meeting in Anantapur, outlining a massive plan to provide free solar power to nearly 30 lakh households across the state.
Ambitious Targets for SC/ST and BC Households
The core of the plan involves the Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (APSPDCL) installing 2 kW grid-connected rooftop solar systems for all 7.48 lakh technically feasible Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe domestic consumers within its jurisdiction. This initiative alone is projected to generate a combined capacity of 415 megawatts (MW) of clean energy.
In a significant expansion, Chief Secretary K Vijayanand announced that the state government will provide free rooftop solar systems to an additional 21 lakh Backward Class (BC) households across Andhra Pradesh. This move will bring the total number of beneficiary households under various free rooftop schemes to nearly 30 lakh, marking a transformative step in energy access and equity.
Fast-Tracking Solar Across Sectors
Vijayanand, chairing the day-long review at the Anantapur Collectorate, gave clear instructions to avoid delays. He ordered that net meters be installed immediately after the solar panels are fixed, ensuring consumers can start benefiting from the scheme without bureaucratic hold-ups.
The review also focused on solarising the agricultural sector. Officials were directed to expedite the solarisation of 1.36 lakh agricultural pump sets under Component-C of the PM-KUSUM scheme, which will add another 610 MW of capacity. For Anantapur district specifically, authorities were told to accelerate land acquisition for 111 MW of feeder-level solar plants across 20 sites, requiring 498 acres.
Deadlines and Broader Infrastructure Push
Under the central government's PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, rooftop solar works for 17,870 households in Anantapur, totalling 35.7 MW, must also be completed by the March 2026 deadline.
The chief secretary's review extended beyond solar. He instructed officials to fast-track the establishment of electric vehicle charging stations under the newly launched PM E-Drive scheme. Furthermore, he issued a stern warning that all loss-reduction and infrastructure works sanctioned under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) must be completed within their stipulated timelines, with no tolerance for cost or time overruns.
Before commencing the review, Chief Secretary K Vijayanand paid rich tributes to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on his 69th Mahaparinirvan Diwas by garlanding his portrait, recalling Babasaheb's unparalleled contribution to nation-building and social justice.
The high-level meeting was attended by APSPDCL Chairman & Managing Director L Siva Shankar, Ananthapur District Collector O Anand, District SP P Jagadeesh, Joint Collector Shiv Narayan Sharma, NREDCAP Managing Director Kamalakara Babu, APSPDCL Director (Projects & IT) P Ayub Khan, and other senior officials from the district and power utility.
