The Ramechhap (Garjyang)-New Khimti 132 kilovolt (kV) double circuit transmission line project has been constructed for the transmission of the electricity produced by the hydropower projects in the Khimti and Likhu river watershed areas.

The length of the transmission line is 31 km, starting from Garjyang in Gokulganga Rural Municipality of Ramechhap and ending at the New Khimti Substation located at Sankhe (Fulasi) in Manthali Municipality-13 of Ramechhap through Tamakoshi Rural Municipality of Dolakha. As many as 105 towers have been constructed for the transmission line.

Under the project, a new 132 kV substation has been constructed at Gajryang and a 132 kV bay has been constructed at the new Khimti substation. Three-phase power transformers of 132/33 kV, 30 MVA and 33/11 kV 6/8 MVA capacity have been installed at the Garjang substation.

Kulman Ghising, managing director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), said that after the construction of transmission lines and substations, the infrastructure is ready for the transmission of about 200 MW of electricity. "The construction of the transmission line, which has been in trouble due to various obstacles, is being completed and tested. Now the test works are being done to bring it into operation (charge) in a few days," he said.

After some delay in the construction of Garjang-Khimti due to obstacles from local residents from last April, the electricity generated from Upper Khimti and Upper Khimti II hydroelectric projects has been connected to the Jiri substation through a 33 kV transmission line from the Garjyang substation. From the Jiri substation to the Makaibari substation at Charikot, electricity has been fed into the national system through the Singti substation.

The landowners of areas affected by the Garjyang-Khimti transmission line, demanding 100% compensation, obstructed the construction in Tose, Dharapani, Betali, Namadi and Tamakoshi rural areas of Dolakha in Gokulganga Rural Municipality of Ramechhap.

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

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, 220/132/33, 200 MVA capacity power transformers will be installed at 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 Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Project now has a 100 MV power transformer.