Kathmandu, May 5

Despite facing hurdles from various government entities and locals, the construction of the 42.88-kilometre-long 132 kVA double circuit Kabeli Corridor transmission line project is expected to be completed by the end of this fiscal year.

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), which is responsible for constructing the aforementioned transmission line project, informed about the latest development today.

The construction of the transmission line has been divided into three sections.

The first section stretching from Lakhanpur in Jhapa to Godak in Ilam has been completed and the third section extending from Phidim to Amarpur in Panchthar is about to be completed. Meanwhile, even though there were delays due to the protests of the locals, the construction work of the second section from Godak to Phidim has also been completed.

As per NEA, construction of the second section that stretches from Godak to Phidim has been completed and the power utility started a test transmission today.

Kul Man Ghising, managing director of NEA, informed that the transmission line from Godak to Phidim has been further divided into two segments — one segment of the transmission line will be charged at the Godak substation and the other will be charged at the Lakhanpur substation.

“After continuous negotiations with local level representatives regarding issues raised by the locals and the local community forest we are finally close to completing the construction of the transmission line,” said Ghising. “There were issues related to land compensation too, which have been resolved now.”

He further said that the third section that extends from Phidim to Amarpur will be completed by the end of the ongoing fiscal year.

After the completion of the Kabeli Corridor transmission line, hydropower projects that have been constructed in Kabeli Khola, Hewa Khola and Mai Khola will be able to transmit the generated electricity to the national grid.

The corridor will help integrate the electricity produced in the eastern hilly districts like Panchthar, Taplejung and Ilam.