KATHMANDU: The government has started laying electricity wires underground as part of the beautification of the Kathmandu Valley.

The work to place the power supply distribution system underground will be carried out in Ratna Park and Maharajgunj in the first phase.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inaugurated the project from Maharajgunj on Monday morning.

Addressing the event, PM Oli said with this, a new chapter of development has started. Installation of underground telephone, electric and internet cables would add to the beauty of the cities, he said.

“Stray wires will be removed under this project. Now the cities will glow,” he said, adding that the project would be expanded to major cities of the country.

Efforts are underway to remove tune ( ropeway) from across the country, he said in another context. Blacktopping roads six kilometers a day is taking place since the incumbent government was formed and around 3,000 kilometers roads have been blacktopped in a period of two years, according to him.

The government was at work to expand electricity to all places in the country and export electricity in the next two years, he said.

“The country has got only 500 megawatts in the past over 100 years and 500 megawatts have been added in recent years,” he said. He assured of power production on a large scale in the future. As he said, the power consumption rate will also be increased gradually. According to the Prime Minister, in the past, Nepal was facing a brain drain and a campaign has begun to bring such human resources back home.

Underground power supply system containing 11,00 voltage will be installed in the areas in Baluwatar, Panipokhari, Budhanilkantha, Gongabu, Dhapasi, Basundhara, Shivapuri, Chunikhel, Sukedhara, Dharmasthali, Teaching Hospital.

Similarly, the 250 km-long optical fiber system also be laid in installing the underground power distribution system.

Likewise, electricity lines will be laid areas including  Ratnapark, Bag Bazaar, Putali Sadak, New Road, Anamnagar, Jamal, Lainchaur, Thamel, Naxal, Sohrakhutte, Tripureshwor, Teku, Thapathali, Maitighar, Singha Durbar, Lazimpat, Airport, Baneshwor, Chahabil, Bauddha, Gaushala, and Jorpati.