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Work has begun to construct an underground electricity transmission line across an approximately eight-kilometre stretch of Chitwan National Park. The underground electrification project was initiated after the Bagmati Province Division Office of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) invited bids and signed a contract for the work.

The underground line, which will have the capacity to transmit 25 megawatts of electricity, is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 178.6 million. Sharda and Sumnima Bhisan JV has been awarded the contract for the project.

According to the NEA Bagmati Province Division Office, the new underground line is being constructed after the existing underground system experienced repeated problems. Jitendra Kumar Jha, chief of the division office, said the underground cable installed previously had a capacity of only 8 MW, resulting in intermittent problems with electricity transmission.

Jha said the new underground line will follow a new route rather than the existing alignment. He said the new system is being developed as a long-term solution because identifying faults takes considerable time whenever problems occur in the electricity supply.

Following the signing of the contract, the construction company has already completed the necessary surveying and mapping work for the underground electrification project. The process of procuring cables capable of transmitting 25 MW is currently underway. Jha said construction work would gain further momentum after the monsoon season.

The Chanauli Distribution Centre of the NEA currently supplies electricity to the Madi area. According to centre chief Rudra Raj Bista, the distribution centre has around 11,700 customers, who mainly use electricity for household and irrigation purposes.

Madi Municipality in Chitwan is surrounded by forests on all sides, with most of its area falling within Chitwan National Park. Residents of Madi also have to travel through the national park to reach Bharatpur, the district headquarters.

The underground electrification work was initiated after a contract was signed with the construction company on April 20, 2026 , with a deadline of nine months for completion.

Once the new system is completed, it is expected to reduce the electricity supply problems currently affecting the Madi area and make the power supply more reliable.

Jalasarokar