The government has taken up a Tk 2,910.22 crore project to expand and modernise electricity distribution networks across the three Chattogram Hill Tracts districts, aiming to bring another 88,586 consumers under the national grid and improve power services in one of the country’s most remote regions.

The project, titled “Expansion of Electricity Network in Three Hill Districts,” will cover all 26 upazilas of Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban.

The three districts are home to about 1.84 million people, with more than half belonging to small ethnic communities.

Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) under the Power Division will implement the project.

Of the estimated project cost, Tk 444.31 crore will come from the government, Tk 2,098.40 crore from an Asian Development Bank (ADB) project loan and Tk 367.52 crore from BPDB’s own funds.

The new project has been designed to extend grid services to areas and communities that remained outside the earlier coverage.

The ADB approved a $175 million concessional loan in September for expanding reliable and affordable electricity access in the Chattogram Hill Tracts.

The project is scheduled to be implemented by June 2031.

A Planning Commission member told UNB that the project would expand and improve the electricity distribution system in the three hill districts, helping meet growing demand and improve the quality of electricity services.

“Once implemented, the project will make it possible to provide grid-connected electricity to another 88,586 new consumers, bringing nearly 90 percent of the people in the three hill districts under the national grid,” the member said.

At present, BPDB has 250,782 electricity consumers in the three districts, according to the project document.

Of them, 75,149 are in Rangamati, 59,834 in Bandarban and 115,799 in Khagrachhari, based on data as of June 2026.

The project is expected to add 25,966 new consumers in Rangamati, 17,700 in Bandarban and 44,920 in Khagrachhari.

The project document said a previous project, titled “Development of Electricity Distribution System in Three Hill Districts”, was completed in June 2022.

Following its implementation, around 55 percent of the people in the hill districts gained access to electricity.

The new project has been designed to extend electricity services to people still living outside the coverage area.

Under the project, six new 33/11 kV substations will be constructed, including three in Rangamati, two in Khagrachhari and one in Bandarban. Four existing 33/11 kV substations will be upgraded or renovated, along with one switching station.

The project will also install 2,038 new distribution transformers with capacities of 250, 100, 50, 25 and 15 kVA.

It will construct 244 km of new 33 kV lines and upgrade or renovate another 262 km. For 11 kV lines, 1,016 km of new lines will be constructed and 459 km will be upgraded or renovated.

The project also includes construction of 563 km of new 11/0.4 kV lines and renovation or upgrading of 344 km.

In addition, 692 km of new 6.35 kV lines, 387 km of new 6.35/0.23 kV lines, 1,179 km of new 0.8 kV lines and 951 km of new 0.23 kV lines will be constructed.

Another 402 km of 0.8 kV lines and 407 km of 0.23 kV lines will be upgraded or renovated.

The project will cover all 26 upazilas of the three districts — 10 in Rangamati, seven in Bandarban and nine in Khagrachhari.

The project document said expanding electricity access in the hill areas is important for development, agriculture and tourism, improvement of living standards and ensuring border security.

The project is also aligned with the government’s election manifesto commitment to ensure efficient, affordable and reliable electricity services through strengthening and modernising the power transmission system.

It is also in line with Sustainable Development Goal 7, which seeks to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.