Power Ministry to scrap PTCC clearance for transmission lines

The Ministry of Power has decided to abolish the requirement for Power and Telecommunication Coordination Committee (PTCC) clearance for new transmission line projects, with effect from July 1, 2026. The decision follows a high-level meeting chaired by the Secretary (Power), where stakeholders reviewed delays linked to the PTCC process.

The meeting included participation from the Central Electricity Authority, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, and the Ministry of Railways. Discussions focused on whether PTCC clearance remains relevant in the context of current transmission technologies and telecom infrastructure.

POWERGRID stated that the PTCC requirement has become largely redundant. It noted that in the past decade, only one isolated case required specific PTCC protection measures. The utility added that modern transmission design practices, including near-perpendicular crossings of railway lines and adherence to tower footing and earthing standards, have reduced induced voltage risks to minimal levels.

At the same time, legacy system risks were acknowledged. The Ministry of Railways indicated that more than 50% of its signalling and control systems still use copper quad cables, which can be affected by electromagnetic interference during fault conditions. BSNL highlighted the continued presence of copper-based telecom networks in remote areas, while proposing that its Route Approval Certificate (RAC) process be discontinued and residual cases handled through CEA oversight.

The committee concluded that interference risks are limited to specific locations and can be addressed through standard technical measures rather than a blanket clearance mechanism. It also noted that modern fibre-based telecom systems are largely unaffected by such issues.

As part of the transition, CEA will issue technical guidelines before July 1, 2026 to ensure safety and compliance. The meeting also considered proposals for self-certification of telecom safety by transmission utilities and the development of an online coordination mechanism under the National Single Window System (NSWS).

The removal of PTCC clearance is expected to reduce project timelines and ease right-of-way processes for transmission developers, in line with ongoing efforts to streamline infrastructure approvals.

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