The Municipal Corporation of Delhi's (MCD) ambitious plan to establish a waste-to-energy plant at Narela-Bawana is encountering persistent setbacks, with a new obstacle threatening to further delay the timeline. Despite receiving an allocation of Rs 26.4 crore for relocating 400kV transmission lines and initiating preliminary groundwork, the work has been stalled by a proposed elevated metro corridor in the vicinity.
Technical Hurdles with Power Lines
According to an MCD official, the proposed metro line requires an increase in the height of unipoles before the transmission lines can be shifted. While the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has agreed to cover the additional cost, the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), responsible for executing the relocation, has stated that the design of the unipoles needs to be altered. This has created an impasse.
The civic body has flagged the issue to the Delhi government, seeking intervention to resolve the deadlock. It recently urged the government to escalate the matter to the Lieutenant Governor's office for expedited coordination with the central government.
Ownership and Deadlines
The transmission lines are jointly owned by Delhi Transco Limited and PGCIL. A June deadline was initially set for the relocation, but the work remains pending. A DMRC official clarified that the metro alignment does not directly hinder the project. However, there is an issue regarding the relocation of power lines, which is being resolved in consultation with the concerned agencies to ensure that metro construction is not affected.
A tripartite agreement for shifting the lines from the plant site was signed in April 2025, and payments have been made accordingly. The project's foundation stone was virtually laid by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in September 2025.
Project Details and Importance
The facility, envisioned as MCD's fifth waste-to-energy plant, will process 3,000 metric tonnes of segregated municipal waste daily and generate 28 MW of electricity. Estimated to cost Rs 604 crore, the plant is designed for a 25-year operational life and is targeted for commissioning by December 2027. The project is considered crucial to curbing the dumping of fresh waste at already saturated landfill sites.
The project had earlier faced local resistance, but construction gained momentum after the Supreme Court upheld MCD's authority to determine tariffs for the plant in March 2025. Subsequently, the Union Environment Ministry granted environmental clearance in June for the 30 MW plant.
Broader Context
Expansion of existing facilities and the commissioning of the Bawana plant are critical to easing the burden on the city's landfill sites. Another project to expand the Tehkhand plant is also facing delays as it awaits environmental clearance.
