Kathmandu, 21 March 2025 – The construction of the Dhalkebar–Bara section under the under-construction Hetauda–Dhalkebar–Inaruwa 400 kV transmission line project has been completed to strengthen and enhance the reliability of the domestic electricity transmission system and expand electricity trade between Nepal and India.
The construction of a 100-kilometer transmission line from the Dhalkebar substation in Dhanusha, passing westward through Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, and up to Saraswati Danda on the border of Bara and Makwanpur, has been completed.
Similarly, the 154-kilometer, 400 kV double-circuit transmission line from Dhalkebar in Dhanusha to the Inaruwa substation in Bhokraha Narsingh Rural Municipality-4, Sunsari, has also been completed and has been operational since last Asar (June/July).
To further facilitate the flow of electricity westward from Dhalkebar, a circuit of the 400 kV transmission line, approximately 60 kilometers long, has been brought into operation (charged) at 132 kV up to the forest near Chandranigahapur (Chapur) market in Rautahat.
The 400 kV transmission line was charged to 132 kV on Thursday in the presence of Kulman Ghising, Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority, by tapping the currently operational 132 kV east-west transmission line at that location.
“In order to address the current energy shortage during winter, additional electricity can be imported from India through the Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur cross-border transmission line during the daytime. This will allow water to be stored in semi-reservoir projects like Kulekhani, Upper Tamakoshi, Kaligandaki, Marsyangdi, and Middle Marsyangdi during the day and used during the evening peak and nighttime. This will further facilitate electricity supply management westward from Dhalkebar,” said Ghising.
After the monsoon begins, the surplus electricity, after domestic consumption, can be transmitted from the west to Dhalkebar to increase the volume of electricity exported to India. Additionally, the ongoing work to replace the conductors of the existing 132 kV transmission line to enhance its capacity has progressed smoothly.
“The authority is upgrading (replacing conductors) of the 132 kV double-circuit transmission line from Hetauda in Makwanpur to Dhalkebar. To enhance the capacity of the East-West 132 kV double-circuit transmission line, the old low-capacity conductors along the approximately 136-kilometer section from Hetauda to the Dhalkebar substation are being replaced with new high-capacity HTLS (High-Temperature Low-Sag) conductors.”
“Among these, the conductor replacement work on both circuits from Hetauda to the Piluwa substation in Bara has been completed. Additionally, one circuit from Dhalkebar to Lalbandi in Sarlahi has also been completed. However, due to local obstructions, the work beyond Lalbandi has been halted. Since the transmission line needs to be shut down (shutdown) for conductor replacement, which would affect the electricity supply in the region, the work could not progress. Now that the 400 kV line has been charged at 132 kV, electricity can be supplied through this line, allowing the conductor replacement work to continue.”
Currently, about 200 megawatts of electricity is being transmitted through the old 132 kV transmission line. After replacing the conductors, the capacity will increase, and approximately 400 megawatts of electricity will flow. This will improve electricity supply in the region, allow more electricity produced in the west to be transmitted eastward, and enable the export of surplus electricity, after domestic consumption, to India through the Dhalkebar substation.”
“The 400 kV transmission line from Hetauda Substation, located at Thana bhanjyang in Hetauda Sub Metropolitan City-11, to Inaruwa, covering a distance of 288 kilometers, was divided into two sections for construction. The transmission line is divided into two sections: Hetauda-Dhalkebar (134 kilometers) and Dhalkebar-Inaruwa (154 kilometers). Among these, the Dhalkebar-Inaruwa section has been completed and is in operation. The Hetauda-Dhalkebar section is still under construction.”
“Under this section, some locals from the Hatiya area in wards 15, 16, and 17 of Hetauda Sub Metropolitan City have been obstructing the construction for about 8 years, demanding the transmission line’s route to be shifted. In the Hatiya area, 16 towers are yet to be constructed, and 2 towers are remaining at Thana bhanjyang in Hetauda-11, making a total of 18 towers left to be built. The remaining 2 towers are under construction.”
“The project was initiated under the Nepal-India Electricity Transmission and Trade Project with investment from the Government of Nepal and the Authority, along with concessional loans from the World Bank. After the completion of the World Bank loan period, the remaining work is currently being carried out with investment from the government and the Authority.”
