Kathmandu: An ambitious plan of installing underground electric wires in the Kathmandu Valley has formally begun.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today inaugurated the project amid an event here. In the first phase, the project will start in Maharajgunj and Ratnapark areas and expand to other areas gradually, according to the government’s plan.

The project has been initiated by the Nepal Electricity Authority under the direction of the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation.

Addressing the event, PM Oli said with this, a new chapter of development has started. Installation of underground telephone, electric and internet cables would add to the beauty of the cities, he said.

“Stray wires will be removed under this project. Now the cities will glow,” he said, adding that the project would be expanded to major cities of the country.

Efforts are underway to remove tuine ( ropeway) from across the country, he said in another context.

Blacktopping roads six kilometers a day is taking place since the incumbent government was formed and around 3,000 kilometers roads have been blacktopped in a period of two years, according to him.

The government was at work to expand electricity to all places of the country and export electricity in the next two years, he said.

“The country has got only 500 megawatts in the past over 100 years and 500 megawatts have been added in recent years,” he said. He assured of power production on a large scale in the future. As he said, power consumption rate will also be increased gradually.

According to the Prime Minister, in the past, Nepal was facing a brain drain and a campaign has begun to bring such human resources back to home.