Chandigarh, Dec 29 : The first 600 MW unit of the Rajiv Gandhi Thermal Power Project (RGTPP) at Khedar in Hisar district of Haryana became operational Tuesday, an official said.

"The unit will be operated at a load of around 40 to 50 MW for a few hours during which all the leakages and problem areas will be noted for corrective action," said Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda here Tuesday.

"This unit is all set to start generation of power at full load by the end of January 2010. The work of unit-II is also progressing as per schedule and it will be finally commissioned before March 2010."

Hooda said Haryana is committed to adding to its power generation capacity and the first 660 MW unit of Mahatma Gandhi Super Thermal Power Project at Jhajjar was next in line to be commissioned during December 2011.

Sanjeev Kaushal, managing director of Haryana power generation corporation limited, said: "An overall expenditure of Rs. 3,111 crore (Rs. 31.1 billion) has so far been incurred on the RGTPP against the total estimated cost of Rs. 4,337 crore
(Rs. 43.37 billion)." (IANS)