CEA, MoEFCC push narrower RoW for transmission lines in forest areas
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) have moved to encourage transmission utilities to adopt improved tower configurations and advanced conductor technologies that can reduce Right-of-Way (RoW) requirements for transmission lines in forest areas by up to 20%.
The move follows revised RoW standards introduced under the Central Electricity Authority (Technical Standards for Construction of Electrical Plants and Electric Lines) Amendment Regulations, 2025, notified in the Gazette of India on October 9, 2025. The revised framework covers different combinations of lattice and pole structures using conventional Aluminium Conductor Steel Reinforced (ACSR) and High-Temperature Low-Sag (HTLS) conductors.
The changes are intended to reduce the physical footprint of transmission corridors through smaller tower wing spans, lower tower footing requirements and narrower RoW widths. In forest areas, this could reduce tree felling and the overall impact of transmission infrastructure on forest ecosystems.
Revised norms
The amended regulations prescribe RoW requirements for transmission lines in forest areas, urban and populated areas, and approach sections near substations. They provide separate standards for lattice structures with ACSR conductors, pole structures with ACSR conductors, lattice structures with HTLS conductors, and pole structures with HTLS conductors.
For conventional lattice structures using ACSR conductors in forest areas, the prescribed RoW width is 56 m for 765 kV double-circuit (D/C) lines with vertical configuration, 40 m for 400 kV D/C vertical lines, 28 m for 220 kV D/C vertical lines and 21 m for 132 kV D/C vertical lines.
Pole structures can further reduce corridor requirements. A 765 kV single-circuit (S/C) line using a vertical delta configuration and ACSR conductor has a prescribed forest RoW of 46 m. For D/C lines, the corresponding widths are 31 m at 400 kV, 26 m at 220 kV and 20 m at 132 kV.
The regulations also provide RoW standards for lattice structures using HTLS conductors. A 400 kV D/C line using a Carbon Fibre Composite Core (CFCC) conductor with a diameter of 31.77 mm requires 38 m of RoW in forest areas, while a 400 kV D/C line using an Aluminium Conductor Steel Supported (ACSS) conductor with a diameter of 37.77 mm requires 43 m. At 220 kV, a D/C lattice line using a 28.14 mm CFCC conductor requires 24 m, while a 132 kV D/C line using a 20.60 mm GAP conductor requires 21 m.
Combining pole structures with HTLS conductors allows still narrower corridors under certain configurations. A 400 kV D/C pole line using a 31.77 mm CFCC conductor has a prescribed forest RoW of 29 m. The requirement falls to 23 m for a 220 kV D/C configuration using a 28.14 mm CFCC conductor and 19 m for a 132 kV D/C line using a 21 mm CFCC conductor.
Forest guidelines
MoEFCC issued guidelines on July 3, 2026, following deliberations by the Advisory Committee on June 10, 2026. The Ministry directed that new transmission lines in forest areas follow the RoW requirements prescribed under Schedule VII of the amended CEA Regulations.
For projects using existing or older tower and conductor configurations, the existing RoW guidelines will continue to apply. However, the existing standards applicable to old configurations in forest areas are to be discontinued and replaced by the revised standards as the new framework is implemented.
The guidelines also called for the Ministry of Power to advise States, Union Territories and transmission agencies to encourage adoption of improved technologies that can reduce corridor requirements.
CEA subsequently issued an advisory on July 30, 2026, asking transmission utilities, power corporations, private developers and other stakeholders to adopt the amended RoW requirements for applicable transmission line configurations. It also asked entities to ensure compliance while planning and executing transmission projects in forest areas and to circulate the advisory among concerned organisations.
Technology options
The framework identifies multiple technology routes for reducing transmission RoW. These include lattice towers using HTLS conductors such as CFCC, ACSS and GAP; monopole structures using conventional ACSR conductors; monopoles combined with HTLS conductors; and improved lattice tower designs with optimised geometry and smaller wing spans.
Depending on the voltage level, conductor and tower configuration, these technologies can reduce RoW requirements in forest areas by up to 20%. A narrower corridor can limit tree felling and reduce the land footprint associated with transmission development while allowing additional grid infrastructure to be built through environmentally sensitive areas.
The advisory has been circulated across the transmission sector, including Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), State Transmission Utilities (STUs), Regional Power Committees and Central Public Sector Undertakings including NTPC, NHPC, SJVN, THDC, NEEPCO and DVC. Private transmission developers including Adani, Tata Power, ReNew, Apraava, L&T, Kalpataru, KEC, Sterlite/Resonia, Megha, G.R. Infra, Essar and Suzlon are also among the entities covered.
The featured photograph is for representation only.
