The construction works of New Butwal substation at Sunwal of Nawalparasi (220/132 KV) and East Chitwan substation at Bhandara of Chitwan (132/33/11KV) have reached the final phase.

There is a target to bring the substations into operation by March 2020.

After a visit of the construction sites, managing director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Kulman Ghising said the works would be complete within the stipulated timeframe if there was no obstacle.

Ghising took updates from the project administration and the contractor company, and directed all involved to complete their respective works on time. “Foundation for the substation has been installed and most of the required equipment has arrived at the project site. Only the installation of the equipment is left," he said.

"Complete the civil structures and focus on the installation of equipment," he directed officials. "The NEA is there to help whenever there is any problem."

New Butwal substation aims to promote domestic power consumption and cross-border or regional electricity trade.

Tata Project Limited, the Indian contractor, has resolved to operate the substation by mid-April. Over 100 staffers are employed for the construction of the project. Electricity generated from hydroelectricity projects at Kaligandaki river basin will be connected to the national grid at New Butwal Substation through 220KV Kaligandaki Corridor transmission line.

The second cross-border transmission line for electricity trade between Nepal and India will start from New Butwal substation. Nepal and India have come to an agreement for electricity trade, construction, and implementation of New Butwal-Gorakhpur 400 KV double-circuit transmission line. Built in about 20 bighas of land, New Butwal will be the second largest electricity hub after Dhalkebar substation at Dhanusha.

From the grant provided by America through Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), another substation with a capacity of 400KV will be built at New Butwal. The MCC will also build transmission line from Damauli of Tanahun to New Butwal.

“After the substation comes into operation, the technical leakage will be reduced by 4-5%,” Ghising said, “The consumers will get reliable and sufficient power supply, and the problem of power cuts during summer will be solved.”

Electricity transmitted through 132KV transmission line from Hetauda of Makwanpur to Bharatpur will be supplied to the area after trapping the electricity at East Chitwan substation.