KATHMANDU:  Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has developed a plan for underground electric cables in Kathmandu Valley in a bid to minimize the risk of electric shocks and maintain the urban beauty. In the first phase, NEA has chosen the areas covered by the Maharajgunj Distribution Centre and Ratnapark Distribution Centre  for the cable under grounding project.

NEA has selected Indian company KP Industries Ltd to undertake the project. Overhead cables of electricity, telecommunications and others have spoiled the urban beauty, increasing the risk of accidents. The new project aims to address these problems, according to NEA central and north (Maharajgunj) project chief Abhishek Adhikari. The total cost of the project is over Rs 6.60 billion.

The works need to be completed within the 30 months of project initiation. During the first phase, the project will be implemented at Bagbazar, Asan, and Durbar Marg area. Once the first phase of the project gets completed, around 9,000 clients of both centres will get smart meters which will replace meter readers. Customers themselves will determine the quantity of power they need .