The much-awaited 726.6 MW gas- based thermal power project at Palatana in Tripura’s South District would be operational by March 2012, ONGC Chairman R S Sharma said on Saturday.

“All efforts have been taken by ONGC for timely achievement of gas supply commitments, which would be operational by March 2012,” Sharma told reporters in Agartala.

He said the power plant comprises of two blocks, each with a gross rating of 363.3 MW and the plant would be operational by March 2012.

Sharma said heavy equipment, including turbines, would be transported through Ashuganj river port in Bangladesh, 37 Km from here for which a portion of roads would be widened by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation in Bangladesh in the next three months.

He said the Rs 9000-crore power project, including the high tension transmission line from Palatana to Bongaigaon in Assam, is the single largest investment by ONGC in the North-East, which would be able to meet the requirements of power in the region.

When asked, if power could be sold to neighbouring Bangladesh, Sharma said even after meeting the requirements of 400 MW power in the North-East region, some power would be surplus and the Centre would decide about selling off the surplus power to the neighbouring country.