India’s largest nuclear power complex faces decades of construction, protests, and rising costs

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is India’s largest nuclear facility, a massive collaboration with Russia designed to house six reactors. Since its inception, the project has navigated complex geopolitical shifts, intense local opposition, and significant budget revisions, all while aiming to secure the nation’s energy future through advanced pressurized water technology.

The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, located in Tamil Nadu, represents a long-standing partnership between India and Russia. Originally conceived in 1988 under an agreement between Rajiv Gandhi and Mikhail Gorbachev, the project stalled for a decade following the Soviet Union's dissolution. It was eventually revived in 1998, with construction officially beginning in 2002. The site utilizes Russian-designed VVER-1000 pressurized water reactors, which feature double containment systems intended to withstand high pressure.

The project has faced significant hurdles, most notably persistent local opposition. Protests intensified following the 2011 Fukushima disaster, with demonstrators raising concerns about safety and the feasibility of emergency evacuations. These protests led to thousands of sedition charges and occasional violence. Conversely, government officials and nuclear experts have defended the plant’s safety, citing its solid terrain and distance from tsunami-prone areas. In 2013, the Supreme Court of India ruled in favor of the plant, citing the broader public interest in energy security.

Financial and operational challenges have also defined the site’s history. Costs for the various units have seen repeated upward revisions due to inflation, labor expenses, and technical changes. For instance, the cost for units 3 and 4 was revised to ₹68,893 crore by July 2026. Despite these setbacks, the plant has achieved significant milestones. Units 1 and 2 are operational, and construction on units 3 through 6 continues, with the facility aiming for a total installed capacity of 6,000 MW upon completion.

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