Rajasthan’s Chief Secretary has asked officials to clear land and right-of-way hurdles holding up transmission lines that carry renewable power out of the state. Power Grid also asked for land to build high-voltage direct current lines from solar parks.
Key takeaways
- Chief Secretary V Srinivas reviewed inter-state and intra-state transmission projects with Power Grid and Energy Department officials at the Secretariat on Monday.
- He directed officials to resolve right-of-way (RoW) issues that are slowing the projects.
- District collectors and superintendents of police have been told to help clear RoW problems.
- Power Grid asked for land to build high-voltage direct current (HVDC) lines to move solar park power to other states.
Building solar and wind plants is only half the job. The electricity has to travel from where it is produced to where it is needed, and that depends on transmission lines. Rajasthan is now pushing to remove the obstacles holding those lines back.
What happened at the meeting?
On Monday, Rajasthan Chief Secretary V Srinivas held a review meeting at the Secretariat with senior officials from Power Grid and the state Energy Department. The subject was the progress of transmission projects, both those that cross state borders and those within Rajasthan.
Srinivas said the projects are being developed so that power generated by renewable energy plants in the state can be carried out through inter-state and intra-state transmission networks. He directed officials to make sure the projects are finished on time.
The right-of-way problem
A key issue discussed was right-of-way, or RoW. In simple terms, this is the legal access to land that a transmission line needs along its route, and delays in securing it can hold up construction.
Srinivas directed officials to resolve RoW issues linked to the projects. The Energy Department told the meeting that district collectors and superintendents of police had already been directed to provide the help needed to settle RoW-related problems.
What Power Grid told the meeting?
Power Grid officials briefed the Chief Secretary on the progress of projects that are still pending. They said the projects would be completed with the support of the state government.
Land sought for HVDC lines
Power Grid also asked for land for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission lines. The purpose is to raise transmission capacity so that power from solar parks can be sent to other states without tripping, meaning without the lines shutting down unexpectedly.
Srinivas directed the concerned officials to take the necessary action on land availability for the proposed HVDC lines.
Who attended?
Along with the Chief Secretary, the meeting was attended by:
- VR Mohan Burra, chairman and managing director of Power Grid
- Aarti Dogra, Energy Secretary
- Rohit Gupta, chairman and managing director of Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation
- Other departmental officials
Why it matters?
For a state with a growing number of renewable energy projects, transmission is often the bottleneck. A plant can be ready to generate, but without a line to carry the power, the electricity cannot reach buyers elsewhere. The meeting signals that the state government is treating land access and local administrative support as the main levers for speeding things up.
The source does not mention specific project names, line capacities, costs or deadlines. Those details will show how quickly the commitments made at the meeting turn into lines on the ground.
Frequently asked questions
Who reviewed the transmission projects in Rajasthan?
- Rajasthan Chief Secretary V Srinivas reviewed them at the Secretariat on Monday, with senior officials from Power Grid and the state Energy Department.
What is right-of-way (RoW) in transmission projects?
- It is the legal access to the land along which a transmission line is built. Delays in securing it can slow down construction.
What has the Energy Department done to help resolve RoW issues?
- The department told the meeting that district collectors and superintendents of police had been directed to provide the necessary assistance.
Why did Power Grid ask for land for HVDC lines?
- Power Grid wants to build high-voltage direct current lines to increase transmission capacity, so that power from solar parks can be sent to other states without tripping.
Who attended the meeting?
- Power Grid chairman and managing director VR Mohan Burra, Energy Secretary Aarti Dogra, Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation chairman and managing director Rohit Gupta, and other departmental officials attended.
