CERC Restores Connectivity for 300 MW Bikaner Solar Project After 65-Day Delay In Rajasthan

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission issued an important order on December 12, 2025, settling a long-running dispute over the delayed commissioning of a 300 MW solar power project in Bikaner, Rajasthan. The case was brought by ACME Solar Holdings Ltd. and its special purpose vehicle, ACME Sikar Solar Pvt. Ltd., after they missed the final commissioning deadline that had earlier been fixed by the Commission. The developers were previously given an extension until April 21, 2025, along with the requirement to pay ₹9.50 crore to the Central Transmission Utility of India Limited as compensation for the delay at that stage. When the project was still not fully ready by that date, the developers approached the Commission again, seeking a further extension of 65 days, until June 25, 2025.

In their petition, the developers explained that the delay after April 21 was largely caused by continued protests from environmental groups and local villagers regarding the alleged cutting of Khejri trees. This created serious right-of-way problems and prevented construction teams from working smoothly. They also pointed to technical challenges in the configuration and relay settings needed for establishing telemetry and SCADA links with the power grid substation. These issues held back the trial run process and pushed the completion timeline further.

Even with these challenges, the petitioners showed that major parts of the project had already been completed. The Dedicated Transmission Line and the Pooling Sub-Station were finished and had received approvals from the Central Electricity Authority. According to an affidavit filed on July 17, 2025, the developer had commissioned the entire 300 MW capacity in phases, with the final phase achieving its Commercial Operation Date on June 25, 2025, the exact extended date they had sought from the Commission. This demonstrated that the developers had achieved the required progress, even though they did so later than the deadline that was last approved.

On the other side, the Central Transmission Utility of India Limited argued that the developers had already shifted deadlines many times since receiving connectivity in May 2022, and that they were filing one petition after another. CTUIL noted that connectivity is a limited resource, and keeping it blocked through repeated extensions could affect other potential developers waiting for access. CTUIL revoked the connectivity for the project on April 23, 2025, just two days after the last approved deadline was missed. They defended the revocation by saying that allowing repeated extensions would set a wrong precedent and disrupt the overall connectivity planning for other upcoming projects.

While analysing both sides, the Commission noted that the project had already achieved full commissioning, although 65 days later than the approved date. The Commission stated that revoking connectivity at a time when the project was already commissioned would not be appropriate. It therefore restored the project’s connectivity. The Commission also directed the developers to resubmit the Bank Guarantees, specifically Conn-BG2 and Conn-BG3, as required under the connectivity rules. CTUIL was instructed to calculate the compensation for the period of delay beyond April 21, 2025, and adjust it against the ₹9.50 crore already deposited by the developers, returning the balance amount, if any remained.

Additionally, the Commission instructed CTUIL to process a pending application from the developers to install additional solar capacity along with a 250 MW Energy Storage System within the existing 300 MW connectivity at the Bikaner-II Pooling Station. The order brings clarity and closure to a complex dispute and allows the project to move forward under restored connectivity.