CTUIL releases draft process for closing connectivity applications

The Central Transmission Utility of India Limited (CTUIL) has issued a draft procedure for closing connectivity applications and returning bank guarantees in cases where proposed grid augmentation schemes are not approved. The draft was published for stakeholder consultation on January 13, 2026, under Regulation 6.3 of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) Connectivity and General Network Access (GNA) Regulations, 2022.

The draft outlines the steps to be followed when an Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) augmentation scheme is not approved by the competent authority. Depending on the project cost, approval authority lies with the Ministry of Power, the National Committee on Transmission (NCT), or CTUIL. In such cases, CTUIL will publish the rejection on its website within ten days. All connectivity applications associated with the rejected scheme will then be closed, and bank guarantees, including Connectivity Bank Guarantees and Land Bank Guarantees, will be returned to the applicants.

The procedure also explains how applications will be handled where grid capacity constraints exist. If the available capacity at a location is sufficient to fully meet the requirements of a higher-priority application, that application will be processed further. Applicants may also choose to reduce the requested power quantum to match available margins in order to secure connectivity. In these situations, CTUIL will forfeit 20% of the application fee and refund the remaining 80%. The draft states that CTUIL will not be responsible for any commercial losses arising from the non-approval of the augmentation scheme.

CTUIL has further clarified that if an applicant whose application has been closed submits a fresh application with different parameters, such as location, start date or capacity, it will be examined independently and without any special priority. The proposed procedure forms part of the wider connectivity framework, which includes system studies, monthly regional Consultation Meetings for Evolution of Transmission Schemes (CMETS), and the issuance of in-principle connectivity approvals.

Feedback is to be submitted by January 20, 2026. Access the full draft here.

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