PGCIL pauses laying of overhead transmission lines in Rajasthan

03 Sep 2021 CW Team

The laying of overhead transmission lines of Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) three power projects in Rajasthan has been put on hold after the Supreme Court's ruling.

The Supreme Court's ruling stated that overhead transmission lines should be laid underground in the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) habitat in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat.

These transmission lines were to carry solar power from Rajasthan's projects totaling 8,100 MW and were built at a value of around Rs 29,000 crore as per industry estimations, while over the next 25 years, PGCIL will spend over Rs 3,500 crore to build, and operate these lines.

Currently, Rajasthan has a renewable energy capacity of around 10,500 MW. Additional projects worth multiple gigawatts are under construction in the area as well.

In April, SC had ordered the laying of all transmission lines overhead power lines to be done underground in the GIB habitats in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat to prevent collisions.

Currently, less than 150 GIBs exist, and the main reason for their extinction is associated with crashing into power lines because of the tall and heavy bird's poor sight and a wingspan that crosses two meters.

The migratory flight route of GIB goes through north Gujarat and western Rajasthan, both important regions for solar power projects, as they get over 300 days of direct sunlight every year.

Three subsidiaries of PGCIL had appealed for transmission licenses for three projects that encroached the potential habitat of GIB, as set out in the SC's judgment.

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) refused them the license, stating they were in on grounds that it violated SC's verdict.

PGCIL had argued in the hearings that laying down the high voltage transmission power lines that carry 785 kV was unfeasible, but it would use other devices such as bird diverters to reduce life loss.

Image Source

The laying of overhead transmission lines of Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) three power projects in Rajasthan has been put on hold after the Supreme Court's ruling. The Supreme Court's ruling stated that overhead transmission lines should be laid underground in the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) habitat in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. These transmission lines were to carry solar power from Rajasthan's projects totaling 8,100 MW and were built at a value of around Rs 29,000 crore as per industry estimations, while over the next 25 years, PGCIL will spend over Rs 3,500 crore to build, and operate these lines. Currently, Rajasthan has a renewable energy capacity of around 10,500 MW. Additional projects worth multiple gigawatts are under construction in the area as well. In April, SC had ordered the laying of all transmission lines overhead power lines to be done underground in the GIB habitats in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat to prevent collisions. Currently, less than 150 GIBs exist, and the main reason for their extinction is associated with crashing into power lines because of the tall and heavy bird's poor sight and a wingspan that crosses two meters. The migratory flight route of GIB goes through north Gujarat and western Rajasthan, both important regions for solar power projects, as they get over 300 days of direct sunlight every year. Three subsidiaries of PGCIL had appealed for transmission licenses for three projects that encroached the potential habitat of GIB, as set out in the SC's judgment. The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) refused them the license, stating they were in on grounds that it violated SC's verdict. PGCIL had argued in the hearings that laying down the high voltage transmission power lines that carry 785 kV was unfeasible, but it would use other devices such as bird diverters to reduce life loss. Image Source

Infrastructure Urban

05 Nov 2025

TBO Tek Q2 Profit Climbs 12%, Revenue Surges 26% YoY

TBO Tek Limited one of the world’s largest travel distribution platforms, reported a solid performance for Q2 FY26 with a 26 per cent year-on-year increase in revenue to Rs 5.68 billion, reflecting broad-based growth and improving profitability.The company recorded a Gross Transaction Value (GTV) of Rs 8,901 crore, up 12 per cent YoY, driven by strong performance across Europe, MEA, and APAC regions. Adjusted EBITDA before acquisition-related costs stood at Rs 1.04 billion, up 16 per cent YoY, translating into an 18.32 per cent margin compared to 16.56 per cent in Q1 FY26. Profit after tax r..

Infrastructure Energy

05 Nov 2025

Northern Graphite, Rain Carbon Secure R&D Grant for Greener Battery Materials

Northern Graphite Corporation and Rain Carbon Canada Inc, a subsidiary of Rain Carbon Inc, have jointly received up to C$860,000 (€530,000) in funding under the Canada–Germany Collaborative Industrial Research and Development Programme to develop sustainable battery anode materials.The two-year, C$2.2 million project aims to transform natural graphite processing by-products into high-performance, battery-grade anode material (BAM). Supported by the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Programme (NRC IRAP) and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs a..

Infrastructure Urban

05 Nov 2025

Antony Waste Q2 Revenue Jumps 16%; Subsidiary Wins Rs 3,200 Cr WtE Projects

Antony Waste Handling Cell Limited (AWHCL), a leading player in India’s municipal solid waste management sector, announced a 16 per cent year-on-year increase in total operating revenue to Rs 2.33 billion for Q2 FY26. The growth was driven by higher waste volumes, escalated contracts, and strong operational execution.EBITDA rose 18 per cent to Rs 570 million, with margins steady at 21.6 per cent, while profit after tax stood at Rs 173 million, up 13 per cent YoY. Revenue from Municipal Solid Waste Collection and Transportation (MSW C&T) reached Rs 1.605 billion, and MSW Processing re..