Delayed by land and tendering issues, four states seek December extension to finish Green Corridor Phase-I.
Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh have requested the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to extend the deadline for completing Phase-I of the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) projects till December 2025. The projects, aimed at strengthening intra-state transmission for renewable energy, have faced significant delays due to land acquisition hurdles, right-of-way issues, and a sluggish tendering process.
Originally scheduled to be completed by March 2020, the deadline had already been extended once to March 2025. Despite this, these four states, which are among the country’s major renewable energy producers, have sought additional time to finish the pending works.
According to official data, out of the 9,276 circuit kilometres (ckm) of transmission lines sanctioned, only 6,027 ckm have been completed, while 3,249 ckm remain under construction. Similarly, of the 19,815 MVA of substations targeted, just 14,987 MVA has been completed so far.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy, in its latest report, expressed concern over the delays, noting that robust transmission infrastructure is vital for renewable integration into the national grid. The committee recommended that the MNRE work closely with state governments to resolve bottlenecks and ensure timely completion of the projects.
Meanwhile, four other states- Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat have completed their respective projects under GEC Phase-I.
The Green Energy Corridor project is a critical component of India’s renewable energy expansion plan, designed to evacuate green power from resource-rich states to demand centres.
