KATHMANDU, JUNE 19
Construction of Marshyangdi-Kathmandu 220 KV double circuit transmission line to supply electricity from Marsyangdi River Reservoir Area Hydropower Project to the Kathmandu valley has been completed.
The 82-kilometre transmission line from Markichowk of Tanahu's Aanbu Khaireni Rural Municipality to Matatirtha of Kathmandu has been brought into operation from Thursday.
As per Nepal Electricity Authority Executive Director Kulman Ghising, a reliable transmission network has been prepared for additional flow of electricity to the valley with the completion of the transmission line. The current Marsyangdi- Suchatar 132 KV single circuit line cannot supply more than 100 MW of electricity. With the start of operation of Marshyangdi-Kathmandu line, up to 200 MW of electricity can be transmitted to Kathmandu valley.
Ghising said there used to be problems for the electricity supply as there was only 132 KV single circuit line between Bharatpur and Hetauda when Kulekhani was not running. Now, additional power can be transmitted through Marshyangdi-Kathmandu transmission line to Hetauda via Kathmandu and from vice versa. "The project is the lifeline for energy supply to the Kathmandu valley."
The contract for the construction of the Marshyangdi-Kathmandu transmission line that cost $10.30 million was given to Indian company Tata Project Ltd on June 30, 2016. The construction had started from mid-August the same year. The project extending from Tanahun, Gorkha, Chitwan, Dhading, to Kathmandu has altogether 233 towers.
According to NEA, the construction was delayed due to obstructions of locals at various places along the route of the transmission line. Project Chief Laxman Phunyal said that the construction was affected due to the obstruction of locals in Siddhalek Rural Municipality-7 at Pepaltar of Dhading.
Under the project, substations of 220/132/33 KV, 320 MVA capacity are under construction at Matatirtha of Kathmandu and Markichowk of Tanahu. After the completion of construction of substations, the transmission line will be brought into operation at 220 KV.
The project has been constructed with the investment of Nepal government and concessional loan from the government of Norway and the Asian Development Bank.
A version of this article appears in the print on June 20, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
