The construction of the 132-kV double circuit Gajryang – New Khimti transmission line has been completed.

The structure is for the flow of power generated from the projects based in Khimti and Likhu rivers. The length of the transmission line is 31 kilometers and 105 towers have been built.

The transmission line begins from Gajryang of Okhaldhunga Rural Municipality in Ramechhap and ends at the Naya Khimti substation at Sankhe (Phulasi) of Manthali Municipality-13 in Ramechhap via Tamakoshi Rural Municipality in Dolakha.

The project has a new substation of 132 kV at Gajryang and a bay of 132 kV has been constructed at the New Khimti substation.

Three-phase power transformers of 132/33 kV, 30 MVA, 33/11 kV and 6/8 MVA have been fixed at the Gajryang substation.

Managing Director of the NEA, Kulman Ghising said infrastructures have been constructed for the transmission of around 200 MW of electricity after the completion of the transmission line and substation.

The power produced by the 12 MW Upper Khimti and 7 MW Upper Khimti II hydropower projects has been connected by making alternative arrangements. The electricity produced from these two hydropower projects would be connected to the Garjyang-Khimti transmission line.

Ghising shared that with this, the situation of surplus electricity going to waste due to the lack of transmission infrastructure has come to an end.

Due to the obstruction of the local people, the construction of Gajryang-Khimti will be delayed due to an alternative arrangement from 28 April 2022. Through an alternative arrangement, the electricity produced from Upper Khimti and Upper Khimti 2nd hydroelectric projects has been connected to Jiri substation through a 33 KV transmission line from Gajryang substation. From Jiri substation to Makaibari substation at Charikot, electricity has been transferred to the national system through Singti substation.

The landowners in the right of way of Gajryang-Khimti transmission line, demanding 100% compensation, obstructed the construction in Tose, Dharapani, Betali, Namadi and Tamakosi rural areas of Dolakha in Gokulganga Rural Municipality of Ramechhap. In some places, the owners of land and houses that do not belong to the right of way did not allow the transmission line to be pulled, demanding compensation and compensation.

Project Head Anup Gaut said that due to continuous initiatives, efforts and cooperation with the locals, the local level and administration, and the higher management of the authority, the obstacle in the construction of the transmission line has been removed.

The preliminary work of the project was started from the financial year 2067-68 and the contract agreement was signed with Pinggao Group Company, China in January 2073 for the construction. Upallo Khimti and Upallo Khimti second project promoters of Himalaya Energy Development Company, affiliated with Friendship Engineering, took the job in the subcontract. However, the construction of the project was affected due to the covid-19 epidemic, the problem of bringing the construction equipment to the project site on time and the obstruction of the locals.

The estimated cost of the project is 20 million US dollars and it was built with the investment of the Government of Nepal. Under the project, a power transformer of 220÷132÷33, 200 MVA capacity will be installed in the new Khimti substation. As the capacity of the new Khimti substation is insufficient, the capacity is being expanded. The 220 KV substation constructed by the Upper Tamakosi Hydropower Project now has a 100 MV power transformer.