KATHMANDU: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been focusing on constructing high-capacity transmission line projects during the fiscal year 2080/81.

The NEA has built 400 kV, 220 kV, and 132 kV transmission lines in various parts of the country.

In addition to transmission lines, the NEA has also prioritized the construction of substations.

The 220 kV transmission line for the Kaligandaki Corridor has been completed.

This transmission line starts from the Dana substation in Annapurna Rural Municipality-3, Myagdi.

It extends approximately 130 kilometers through Parbat, Baglung, Syangja, Palpa, Rupandehi, and ends at the New Butwal substation in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta West).

Similarly, the first circuit of the 220 kV transmission line from the Basantapur substation to the Dhungesanghu substation under the Koshi Corridor project has been completed, according to the NEA.

The NEA has also completed the construction of an 88-kilometer 220 kV transmission line from Marki Chowk in Tanahun to the Matatirtha substation in Kathmandu, along with a substation of the same capacity in Matatirtha, within this fiscal year.

Inauguration of Kathmandu’s largest power transmission line and substation with an investment of Rs 8 billion

This year, the 400 kV Dhalkebar-Inaruwa transmission line has also been completed and is operational.

The 220/132 kV Barhabise substation in Sindhupalchok has been completed and brought into operation a few months ago.

Additionally, the NEA has completed the construction of the 132 kV Sandhikharka-Tamghas transmission line and the Tamghas substation.

The NEA has also announced the completion of the third-largest substation in the country, the 400 kV Hetauda substation, this year.

According to NEA spokesperson Chandan Kumar Ghosh, more than a dozen substations and distribution systems have been constructed since mid-July last year.

These include the 33/11 kV Chisapani substation in Ilam’s western region and Panchthar for electricity supply, the Chhatiwan substation in Makwanpur’s Bagmati and Bakaya Rural Municipalities, the Darbang substation in Myagdi’s Mangala, Malika, and Dhaulagiri Rural Municipalities, and the Bojh Pokhari substation in Nawalparasi’s Bulingtar Rural Municipality.

Under the Grid Solar and Energy Efficiency Project funded by a concessional loan from the World Bank, the NEA has constructed and operationalized 33/11 kV substations in Manahari of Makwanpur, Dudhauli of Sindhuli, Namdu of Dolakha, and Unichaur of Lalitpur.

Country’s third-largest power Substation in Hetauda ready, MCC line to be connected

Similarly, a distribution substation has been constructed in Bamti, Ramechhap, under the same concessional loan from the World Bank.

The 33 kV transmission line leading to the substation and the auxiliary lines for electricity supply have also been constructed and brought into operation.

The substations were built under the government’s and NEA’s investment, along with concessional loans from the Asian Development Bank aimed at strengthening and expanding the distribution system.

NEA spokesperson Ghosh mentioned that under this project, 25 new substations are being constructed, and 12 substations are being upgraded and expanded nationwide.

Of the 25 substations, the construction of 7 is in the final stages, and the rest are being upgraded.

Half a dozen transmission lines in final stages

According to the NEA, the construction of the 220 kV Marsyangdi Corridor transmission line from Marki Chowk in Aanbukhaireni Rural Municipality, Tanahun, to the new Bharatpur substation in Bharatpur Metropolitan City, Chitwan, is in its final stages.

The construction of the 132 kV transmission line to supply electricity to the Prasauni and Birgunj substations is also underway, with the Pokhariya substation nearing completion.

Similarly, the construction of the 220 kV Chilime-Trishuli transmission line is also in its final stages.

The construction of the Ramouli-Pokhara transmission line has gained momentum, and the NEA aims to complete it within six months.

The construction of the 21-kilometer-long Parwanipur-Pokhariya transmission line is progressing rapidly.

The 132 kV Pathalaiya-Parwanipur transmission line is also in its final stages, according to the NEA.