The infrastructure construction of the electricity substation at Dandakhet in Malika Rural Municipality-7, Myagdi, has been completed. The infrastructure was built through the Dandakhet–Rahughat Transmission Line Project operated by the Nepal Electricity Authority, and the installation of equipment has now begun.

Project Chief Roshan Agrawal informed that the land and building for installing equipment at the Dandakhet substation have been prepared.

“The Dandakhet substation, built on 51 ropani of land, is in the final stage of installing 133/33 kV, 30 MVA capacity equipment using AIS technology,” he said. “The substation is being constructed with the aim of connecting electricity generated from under-construction hydropower projects on the Myagdi River and its tributaries to the central grid.”

On December 31, 2021, a contract worth NPR 3.57 billion was signed with Larsen & Toubro Limited for the construction of a 25-kilometer, 132 kV transmission line connecting Dandakhet to Ambang in Rahuganga Rural Municipality-3, Rahughat, along with substations at both locations. The contract period, which ended on July 16, has been extended until November 14 this year.

“Overall, 79.17 percent physical progress has been achieved,” said Project Chief Agrawal. “The project timeline has been extended due to weak geological conditions and disaster risks in Rahughat, delays in obtaining permission to build towers in forest areas, and community disputes at some tower construction sites.”

Out of the 59 towers for the 132 kV double-circuit transmission line, the foundations for all have been laid, and construction of 45 towers has been completed. Except for four towers, the contractor has started work on the rest. Eighty-five percent of the equipment for the transmission line and substations has already been imported.

At the Rahughat substation, which will be equipped with 220/132/33 kV, 200 MVA capacity GIS technology equipment, the foundation for the land for installing equipment and the office building has been completed, and structural construction has begun. In Ambang, 90 ropani of land was acquired six years ago for building the substation.

The construction company recently brought nearly 100 workers from India a few days ago. The total estimated cost of the project is NPR 4.88 billion, with NPR 105 million invested by the Nepal Electricity Authority and NPR 3.82 billion financed through a loan from the Asian Development Bank.

The tower construction sites for the transmission line are located in Rahuganga Rural Municipality-3, Beni Municipality-9 and 10, Mangala Rural Municipality-1, and Malika Ward Nos. 6 and 7. Compensation of NPR 15 million has been distributed to private landowners where towers are located, and land in forest areas has been purchased for NPR 45 million and provided to the government.

Four hydropower projects with a total capacity of 172.8 MW have begun construction on the Myagdi River. At Rahughat, the 35.5 MW Chimkhola–Rahughat–Mangle and the 21.3 MW Thulo Khola hydropower projects have started trial electricity generation.