Delays Hit Phase-I of Green Energy Corridor in Four States: MoS Power

26 Jul 2025 CW Team

The Rs 101.41 billion Phase-I of the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) project is facing delays in four states — Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh — due to land acquisition issues, legal cases, and environmental clearances, Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy, Shripad Yesso Naik, informed the Rajya Sabha.

In a written reply, Naik stated that out of the eight participating states, four — Rajasthan, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu — have completed all assigned projects. Delays in the remaining four states are largely attributed to Right of Way (RoW) challenges, court matters including the Great Indian Bustard case, and pending forest approvals.

Highlighting India’s evolving renewable integration capacity, Naik noted that the national grid has maintained stability despite high levels of Variable Renewable Energy (VRE) penetration, with only 0.12 per cent curtailment recorded in FY 2024–25.

To address curtailment and grid balancing issues, the government is undertaking multiple measures including potential-based transmission planning, enabling Temporary General Network Access (T-GNA), promoting thermal power plant flexibilisation, and deploying energy storage systems.

He also shared that a 340 GW Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) network is being planned to evacuate 230 GW of solar and wind capacity. Of this, 48 GW has been completed, 159 GW is under construction, 21 GW is under bidding, and 112 GW is in the planning phase.

Additionally, the Rs 120.31 billion GEC Phase-II is under implementation in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. States have also been advised to develop long-term Intra-State Transmission System (InSTS) plans with a 10-year outlook.

News source: Energetica India

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Second Mountain Tunnel Breakthrough in Palghar Advances High Speed Rail

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail (MAHSR) project reached a milestone with the breakthrough of a mountain tunnel in Palghar, Maharashtra. Mountain tunnel MT-six measures 454 metres long and 14.4 metres wide and will accommodate up and down tracks. The breakthrough follows MT-five near Saphale on second January 2026 and the MT-six excavation was completed from both ends using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method. The ministry reported that the tunnelling was completed within 12 months. The New Austrian Tunnelling Method is favoured for its flexibility in complex geology and irregular tunnel s..

Modi Government Pushes Atmanirbhar Container Drive With BCSL MoU

The Union Government advanced a plan to create an integrated, domestically anchored container ecosystem with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL). The MoU was signed by key agencies including the Shipping Corporation of India and Container Corporation of India alongside major port authorities and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in the presence of senior ministers. The initiative aligns with the Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme announced in the Union Budget 2026–2..

Ministry Reports Gains In Mobility For Marginalised Communities

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing skill development, education and rehabilitation schemes to promote socio-economic mobility and sustainable livelihoods for marginalised and disadvantaged communities across the country. Programmes target Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, De-notified Tribes and Safai Karamcharis through specialised implementing corporations and empanelled training institutes. Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi Yojana, or PM-DAKSH, provided skill training and placement support through the Nati..