CEO Amit Kumar Garg is Leading a Transformation Through Solar Adoption, Technology Upgrades & Rural Inclusion
Intro:
From the rugged highlands of Southern Odisha to India’s fast-evolving clean energy landscape, TPSODL is driving a silent but powerful transformation. Through digital modernization, renewable integration and consumer-first innovations, the company is shaping a reliable and future-ready power ecosystem. In this exclusive interaction, Amit Kumar Garg, CEO of TPSODL, sheds light on the organization’s solar-led mission, advanced grid technologies, different interventions, and the resilient restoration efforts during Cyclone Montha.
1. How has your professional journey shaped your leadership at TPSODL?
I firmly believe leadership thrives on integrity, accountability and inclusion. My years in diverse operational environments taught me that safety, transparency and empowerment must remain non-negotiable. At TPSODL, I regularly engage with frontline teams through field visits and open dialogues. My leadership approach is collaborative—encouraging ownership at every level and fostering a culture where people feel valued and responsible for progress.
2. Southern Odisha often faces natural challenges. How did TPSODL respond to Cyclone Montha and restore power in difficult terrains so quickly?
Cyclone Montha disrupted power in the hilly belts of Koraput and Malkangiri. Our response was swift, strategic and safety-focused. Equipped with SCADA GIS-based insights, patrolling teams were deployed immediately after the wind speeds normalized. Additional manpower, mobile cranes, ERS towers, and material vans were rushed overnight.
Despite landslides, inaccessible stretches and heavy rain, power was restored to 100% consumers within just 20 hours. This rapid recovery reflects our preparedness planning, strong coordination with district authorities, and the dedication of frontline teams who worked tirelessly in extremely challenging environments to ensure essential services remained powered.
3. How are technologies like drone mapping and others transforming operations?
Our drone-based GIS mapping across all six circles has given us unprecedented digital visibility of assets. When integrated with ADMS, this enables real-time control, faster fault detection and proactive maintenance. FLISR systems and smart meter data help isolate faults instantly, ensuring faster power restoration and elevated consumer experience.
4. What role do SCADA and AI-driven analytics play in outage management?
SCADA forms the real-time operational backbone of our network. With 209 primary substations already on SCADA and full coverage planned by FY26, we detect and rectify faults much faster. AI analytics predict equipment risks before failures occur. This has significantly reduced outage frequency and duration, especially in remote and hilly regions.
5. What is your roadmap behind TPSODL’s Green Office initiative?
Sustainability is at the heart of our growth strategy. Our corporate headquarters runs fully on solar with a 100 kWp rooftop plant producing 12,000–15,000 units monthly. We have already solarized 18 more office buildings (438 kWp) under CAPEX and are scaling this across all our facilities. Our goal is to mainstream clean energy adoption internally before expecting it from others.
6. How is the ULA model under PM Surya Ghar Yojana accelerating consumer adoption?
The ULA model democratizes solar access. A household with 1 kW load can set up a 1 kWp plant by paying just ₹8,747 (including meter cost). We’re targeting 30,000 installations in Phase-1. Awareness campaigns in panchayats, social media outreach and dedicated facilitation teams are ensuring even the remotest hamlets benefit.
Alongside ULA, we’ve added 5.25 MW in residential and 5.9 MW in commercial & industrial segments, with 2–3 MW joining monthly. We’ve also signed 20 MW TPPA under KUSUM-A and 3.365 MW under KUSUM-C for feeder solarization. We envision TPSODL as Odisha’s solar frontrunner.
7. How have 33kV upgrades and substation improvements impacted remote belts?
In tribal, forested and hilly areas like Koraput, Malakangiri, Kandhamal, Rayagada and Nabarangpur, feeder bifurcation, automation and line strengthening have enhanced voltage quality and reduced outages. These improvements directly support livelihoods, local entrepreneurship and essential public services.
8. How are digital consumer services evolving at TPSODL?
Our multilingual call centres bridge language gaps for rural consumers. AI chatbots and mobile apps provide 24x7 convenience for billing, outage tracking and complaint resolution. By combining tech-enabled platforms with voice-based support, we’re ensuring inclusivity and faster grievance redressal across demographics.
9. How different programmes have created meaningful community change?
We prioritise education, livelihood development, healthcare and environment sustainability. Vocational training, digital classrooms and infrastructure support uplift local and tribal youth. Health camps and livelihood initiatives strengthen rural well-being. Clean energy awareness, waste management and eco-practices engage communities and schools. Every programme is designed in partnership with stakeholders to ensure lasting impact.
10. How is HR enabling organisational transformation?
More than 12,000 learning hours were delivered this year through blended and digital formats. Our LEAD Series nurtures future leaders. Gender inclusion drives our proud initiatives like all-women CRC and all-women NABL-accredited Meter Testing Lab in Berhampur. We also promote holistic wellness through continuous physical and psychological support initiatives.
11. How do you ensure reliable access in deep tribal geographies?
Ensuring reliable access in deep tribal geographies is both a developmental responsibility and an operational challenge. Many of these villages are located in dense forests, hilly stretches and river-crossing terrains, where logistics and weather conditions often pose barriers. To overcome this, we have strengthened the backbone of our network through upgraded 33 kV lines, modernized substations, feeder bifurcation and improved last-mile connectivity. Dedicated field teams continuously monitor remote pockets to reduce downtime and improve voltage quality. We also conduct door-to-door consumer interactions, service camps and multilingual communication to ensure culturally inclusive engagement. In habitations where grid connectivity is difficult or delayed, we are introducing solar-based and alternative energy solutions. Through electrification and several interventions, we aim not just to supply power, but to support education, livelihoods and overall community progress in tribal regions.