Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has asked the contractors concerned to complete the construction of 220/400 kV Tamakoshi-Kathmandu transmission line by mid-July.

During a site inspection on Thursday, NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising, accompanied by a number of high level NEA officials, gave the contractors the deadline to build the transmission line and related substations. The infrastructure will help evacuate electricity produced by hydropower plants constructed on Tamakoshi and Sunkoshi Rivers and their tributaries.

Of the total length, the 44-km stretch will connect substations at New Khimti of Ramechhap district to Barahbise of Sindhupalchok district. The 46-km long 400 kV double-circuit of Barahbise-Lapsiphedi and 14-km long 132 kV Lapsiphedi-Changunarayan transmission lines are under construction.

Likewise, a 400 kV substation in Barahbise, 400/220/132/11 kV station in Lapsiphedi and 400 kV substation in New Khimti are under construction.

According to Ghising, the work progress of contractors assigned for the Barahbise-based substations are not satisfactory. Chinese companies Guangxi Transmission and Substation Construction Company and Shenzhen Clou Electronics Company have been contracted to construct the substation.

The Barahbise substation will be used to supply 102 MW of electricity to be generated by Madhya Bhotekoshi Hydropower Project being constructed in Sindhupalchok district. The hydropower project is set to start production from the commencement of the next fiscal year.