Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company (MP Transco) has issued 853 notices over constructions identified along three 132 kV transmission lines in Bhopal and its outskirts, raising safety and maintenance concerns in rapidly expanding parts of the city. The issue is also before the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which has sought replies from 10 officials on allegations that construction permissions were granted within restricted transmission corridors.
The notices cover areas including Karond, Bairagarh, Govindpura, Narayankheda, Devkinandan Nagar, Anand Nagar, Jain Colony, Kaliyasot and Ratanpur. MP Transco officials said construction along the routes had made it difficult to maintain the electrical clearances required around high-voltage lines.
The three 132 kV lines under scrutiny are the Govindpura line, the Bhopal-Bairagarh Tap-Lalghati line, the Bhopal-IT Park line and the Bhopal-Amrawat Khurd line. The report identifies these routes as being affected by construction activity that could restrict access to the transmission infrastructure and complicate repair work.
The legal proceedings arise from a public interest litigation before the Jabalpur bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The plea alleges that construction permissions were granted within restricted transmission-line corridors. The court has sought responses from officials including the additional chief secretaries of the energy and urban development departments.
Under the safety norms cited in the report, a restricted corridor of 27 metres on either side of a 132 kV transmission line is prescribed. For a 220 kV line, the prescribed corridor is 35 metres on either side. Construction within these zones can reduce the separation between buildings and transmission conductors, particularly when conductors swing during strong winds.
The safety concern extends beyond newly built structures. Existing houses and colonies located close to the lines may also face risks if the prescribed clearances are not maintained. The report notes that electrical arcing near buildings and other structures under adverse conditions can result in serious and potentially fatal accidents.
MP Transco officials also linked the encroachments to electricity-system operations. Structures close to transmission lines can limit access for maintenance teams and make it more difficult to attend to faults. Officials said this could affect routine maintenance and the reliability of electricity supply, although the report does not provide details of any current outage caused by the identified constructions.
The proceedings have brought the permitting process into focus because the alleged construction has occurred in areas where safety restrictions apply. The court’s request for replies from senior energy and urban-development officials is expected to clarify how permissions were granted and which agencies were responsible for enforcement in the affected corridors.
MP Transco superintending engineer Sudhir Nema said the company was preparing an awareness campaign with the local administration to educate construction owners about electrical safety requirements. He added that further action would be taken in accordance with the directions of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
