Kathmandu — Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has moved forward with the process of constructing a 132 kV underground transmission line in the central part of the Kathmandu Valley. With the aim of ensuring reliable, safe, and smooth electricity supply within the Ring Road area, the authority is planning to expand new underground transmission infrastructure.
According to the NEA, the transmission line will extend from Balaju through Maharajgunj, Rajdarbar, Ratnapark, and up to Singha Durbar. The line from Balaju Substation to Singha Durbar will be approximately 11.92 kilometers long. It will be built as a double-circuit system, and it is stated that the underground line will be capable of transmitting up to 350 megawatts of electricity.
Under the project, new substations will also be constructed in Maharajgunj, Rajdarbar, Ratnapark, and Singha Durbar areas. As per the proposal, Maharajgunj, Rajdarbar, and Ratnapark will have 132/11 kV substations, while Singha Durbar will have a 132/66/11 kV substation.
The NEA has already applied to the Department of Electricity Development for permission to construct the transmission line and substations. The department has issued a public notice, requesting stakeholders to provide suggestions and feedback on the project.
Along with improving urban aesthetics and managing unorganized overhead wiring, the underground transmission line aims to meet the growing demand for electricity. The project will include the construction of 21 joint pits, with a maximum distance of up to 500 meters between them. The project is estimated to require about 1.62 hectares of land.
The NEA had previously completed underground transmission line construction in the Ratnapark–Maharajgunj area, and work is also ongoing in other parts of Kathmandu and Lalitpur. Similar underground transmission projects in Pokhara and Bharatpur are also in their final stages.
However, despite the goal of modernizing electricity infrastructure in urban areas, several underground transmission projects have faced delays and have not been completed within the scheduled timeframe, posing challenges in achieving expected outcomes.
Urjasanchar
