The Ministry of Power has decided to eliminate the requirement for Power Telecom Coordination Committee (PTCC) clearance for transmission lines from July 1, 2026, to reduce delays in project execution.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Power to address bottlenecks in transmission project development, particularly those affecting Power Grid Corporation of India (POWERGRID).

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) will issue technical guidelines to ensure safety and coordination between power and telecom systems after the clearance requirement is removed.

PTCC clearance has historically been required to ensure that high-voltage transmission lines do not interfere with telecom and signaling infrastructure through electromagnetic induction, especially during fault conditions. The process involves multiple stakeholders such as transmission service providers, the Department of Telecommunications, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Indian Railways, the Ministry of Defence, and the CEA.

During the meeting, POWERGRID said PTCC-related risks have been minimal in practice. It noted that no significant protection recommendations had been issued in the past decade, except in one instance. POWERGRID said transmission lines typically cross railway tracks at steep angles, reducing the risk of induction, and that standard grounding practices are already in place to mitigate potential impacts.

CEA emphasized that PTCC studies assess induced voltage under fault conditions, during which high current can create strong electromagnetic fields. It noted that even when transmission lines cross telecom infrastructure at a 90-degree angle, they may run parallel for short distances, posing potential risks that warrant evaluation.

BSNL said most telecom networks have transitioned to optical fiber, which is less susceptible to electromagnetic interference. However, it acknowledged that legacy copper cables remain in some rural and remote areas. BSNL also suggested discontinuing the existing practice of issuing PTCC clearance via route approval certificates, with technical data instead routed through field units.

Indian Railways raised concerns that more than 50% of its communication infrastructure still relies on copper-based systems, particularly for signaling and control operations. It said these systems remain vulnerable to induced voltage and electromagnetic interference from nearby transmission lines, especially during fault conditions.

The meeting concluded that while PTCC clearance helps ensure the safe coexistence of power and telecom infrastructure, its relevance is limited to specific scenarios. Participants noted that the impact of extra-high-voltage transmission lines on telecom networks occurs only in select cases and can be addressed through precautionary measures.

The Ministry recently announced that solar and wind projects with a firm start date of connectivity between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2028, may be eligible for a graded interstate transmission system charges waiver extension if commissioning is delayed due to transmission system unavailability.

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