The Madras Atomic Power Project at Kalpakkam comprises two 220 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) units forming part of India’s southern power grid. Unit 1 went commercial in 1984 and Unit 2 in 1986, establishing MAPS as India’s first fully indigenous nuclear power station and a key contributor to the region’s clean energy supply.

Tata Consulting Engineers (TCE) served as the principal engineering consultant, responsible for the design and engineering of the reactor building (excluding containment), the circulating water system, and India’s first deep-sea submarine intake tunnel for seawater cooling. To ensure reliability in a corrosive coastal environment, TCE designed the country’s first 220 kV indoor switchyard. The scope also covered electrical systems, instrumentation and control systems, and preparation of comprehensive design manuals for operational continuity.

TCE additionally coordinated and integrated work across multiple project partners, ensuring cohesive execution for this first-of-its-kind coastal nuclear installation. The innovative design solutions and engineering precision demonstrated at Kalpakkam later formed the basis for similar assignments at the Narora Atomic Power Plant.