Group Challenged Proposed Cross-Border Power Corridor
The dispute over an Indian-Bangladeshi power project forces operators to monitor risks to infrastructure logistics.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Utilities
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Citizens for National Interest has formally opposed a proposed 765 kV electricity transmission corridor designed to bypass India's strategic Siliguri Corridor bottleneck. The group is calling for a project pause until a seven-point charter is addressed, impacting infrastructure planning across India and Bangladesh.
Why it matters
The opposition highlights rising sovereignty and border security concerns that threaten the viability of a project intended to integrate energy grids across regional bottlenecks. For operators, this delay introduces significant uncertainty into long-term infrastructure investment timelines in the region.
The proposed 765 kV transmission project is designed to route between Katihar, Bihar and Bornagar, Assam by October 2028. This move aims to relieve pressure on the narrow Siliguri Corridor, which serves as the primary land connection for India's northeastern states.
The players
Citizens for National Interest
An advocacy group currently challenging the cross-border transmission project on grounds of national sovereignty.
Indian Ministry of Power
The national authority responsible for developing and clearing major energy infrastructure projects.
The details
The project intends to route power through Bangladesh to bypass the narrow Siliguri Corridor, relying on clearances granted by the Indian Ministry of Power. However, local groups have cited concerns over national sovereignty following reports of 2,300 individuals being pushed back across the border between May 2025 and January 2026. The geopolitical complexity is further compounded by the pending 2026 expiration of the Ganges Treaty and recent climatic instability in the Himalayas.
Timeline
October 5, 2019: The electricity transmission project was initiated via a joint state statement.
2024: Himalayan flash floods caused regional infrastructure disruption.
May 2025 to January 2026: 2,300 individuals were pushed back across the border.
2026: The Ganges Treaty is scheduled to expire.
October 2028: The project targets completion.
Market Landscape
This opposition follows a pattern set by the upcoming 2026 expiration of the Ganges Treaty. The dispute mirrors broader regional tensions regarding land sovereignty that often impact cross-border utility and infrastructure integration.
Operators invested in regional infrastructure should prepare for potential delays to the 2028 completion target. Factor political and border-related risks into project risk assessments while monitoring the status of the seven-point charter demands.
The takeaway
Large-scale infrastructure projects in volatile border zones remain susceptible to shifts in national policy and social pressure. Operators should monitor the specific requirements of the opposition's seven-point charter to assess the risk of further delays to the 2028 project timeline.
What happens next
The project remains targeted for completion in October 2028, pending the resolution of the opposition's seven-point charter.
Further reading
For broader context on grid development challenges, see the Utilities section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Unb.
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