MYAGDI: The infrastructure construction of the electricity substation in Dandakhet, Malika Rural Municipality-7, Myagdi, has been completed.
The installation of equipment has now begun as part of the Dandakhet-Rahughat Transmission Line Project, led by the Nepal Electricity Authority.
Project Chief Roshan Agrawal stated that the land and building to house the substation equipment are ready. “The installation of 133/33 kV, 30 MVA AIS technology equipment at the Dandakhet substation, built on 51 ropani of land, is nearing completion,” he said.
“This substation aims to connect electricity generated from hydropower projects on the Myagdi River and its tributaries to the central grid.”
On December 31, 2021, a contract was signed with Larsen & Toubro Limited to construct a 25-kilometer, 132 kV transmission line linking Dandakhet to substations in Raghuganga Rural Municipality-3, Ambang, and other locations. The original contract expired on July 16 and has been extended until November 15.
Project Chief Agrawal reported that physical progress stands at 79.17 percent. The project timeline was extended due to challenging terrain and disaster risks in Rahughat, delays in obtaining forest permits for tower construction, and community disputes at some tower sites.
Out of 59 towers planned for the 132 kV double-circuit transmission line, foundations have been laid for all, and 45 towers are complete. Work is underway on all but four towers. Approximately 85 percent of the equipment for the transmission line and substations has been imported.
At the GIS technology-based Rahughat substation, construction has started following completion of the foundation and office building.
This substation will feature 220/132/33 kV, 200 MVA capacity equipment. Land covering 90 ropani was acquired six years ago in Ambang for this substation.
Recently, about 100 workers from India were brought in to support the construction. The total project cost is estimated at Rs 4.88 billion, with Rs 1.5 billion funded by the Nepal Electricity Authority and Rs 3.82 billion by the Asian Development Bank.
Transmission line towers are being constructed in Raghuganga Rural Municipality-3, Wards 9 and 10 of Beni Municipality, and Wards 6 and 7 of Mangala Rural Municipality-1. Compensation totaling Rs 15 million has been paid to private landowners, and Rs 45 million has been spent to purchase forest land for government use.
Four hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 172.8 MW are under construction on the Myagdi River. Trial production has begun at the 35.5 MW Chimkhola-Rahughat-Mangle and 21.3 MW Thulokhola projects in Rahughat.
The Upper Rahughat (40 MW), Rahughat (capacity unspecified), and Upper Thulokhola (23.5 MW) projects are in the final stages of construction.
According to Tudi Power, the Chimkhola-Rahughat-Mangle and Samyukta Urja Thulokhola projects have started supplying electricity to the 220 kV Kaligandaki transmission line using temporary towers.
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