The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has released a committee report on the calculation of Right-of-Way (RoW) width for transmission lines built with contemporary technological options. The report focuses on RoW calculations for transmission lines utilizing monopole towers and HTLS (high temperature low sag) conductors.
The report offers comparisons between RoW widths for different configurations, including ACSR conductors with monopole structures, HTLS conductors with monopole structures, and HTLS conductors with conventional lattice towers. This new report supplements an earlier version circulated in July 2020, which provided guidelines for RoW in different areas such as forest, urban, and near substations.
The 13-member committee responsible for the report was formed in July 2023 and held five meetings between August 2023 and September 2024 to compile its findings. The report addresses challenges in the use of monopole structures, noting that while they reduce the footprint and speed up construction, they come with higher costs, transportation issues, and limited manufacturing facilities.
RoW refers to the strip of land under and alongside a transmission line, which ensures safety clearances and allows for maintenance, as per CEA’s 2023 regulations.