Problems in customs clearance of materials related to underground cables, lack of permission from the road department and lack of inter-agency coordination have delayed the work.

The Nepal Electricity Authority has not yet completed the project to place electric wires underground in the Kathmandu Valley, which began in mid February/mid March 2020. Despite multiple extensions of the deadline, the work remains unfinished. The 62nd report of the Auditor General has recommended ending the need for repeated deadline extensions. The report emphasizes that projects should be completed within the stipulated time and budget.

The report states that the deadline for the Eastern and Southern Distribution System Strengthening Project in the Kathmandu Valley has been extended three times, and similarly, the deadline for the Central and Northern Distribution System Strengthening Project has also been extended three times. The Lalitpur–Bhaktapur Distribution System Strengthening Project and the Western Distribution System Strengthening Project in the Kathmandu Valley have each had their deadlines extended once. The report of the Auditor General mentions that, as the work on the Western Distribution System of the Kathmandu Valley remains incomplete, it is currently in the process of receiving a second extension.

The Nepal Electricity Authority has stated that it is unable to carry out the undergrounding of electric wires during the monsoon season, as the Department of Roads does not allow excavation at new locations during the months of mid-June to mid-September. Authority spokesperson Rajbhai Shilpakar said that delays in the work have been caused by issues such as difficulties in clearing customs for underground cable materials, lack of permission from the Department of Roads, and poor inter-agency coordination.

The work of placing electric wires underground is being carried out in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur through four separate projects. Contracts for these four projects have been awarded at a total cost of NPR 3.58 billion. According to the Auditor General, NPR 1.79 billion had already been spent by mid February/ mid March 2025.

Along with the electrical distribution system, the Nepal Electricity Authority has also been tasked with placing internet, telephone, cable television lines, and optical fiber infrastructure underground. The Authority’s plan is to modernize and make these structures technology-friendly, ultimately removing electric poles. In the first phase, the Authority began work to underground, strengthen, and automate the power distribution system in areas under Ratnapark and Maharajgunj distribution centers in Kathmandu. In the second phase, the work expanded to the remaining areas of Kathmandu, and in the third phase, similar work began in the urban areas of Lalitpur and Bhaktapur.

The Eastern and Southern Distribution System Strengthening Project of the Kathmandu Valley has achieved only 81.12% physical progress, while the Central and Northern Distribution System Strengthening Project has reached 76.38% physical progress. Similarly, the Lalitpur–Bhaktapur Distribution System Strengthening Project and the Western Distribution System Strengthening Project of the Kathmandu Valley have achieved 46.51% and 80.88% physical progress, respectively.

According to the Authority, underground lines of 33 kV, 11 kV, and 400 volts will be constructed, along with the installation of optical fiber. The Authority stated that this will eliminate the visual clutter caused by the tangled wires of electricity, telephone, and internet service providers, thereby enhancing the city’s aesthetics. Compared to the current overhead distribution system, the underground system will be safer and will help maintain the city’s beauty by removing the unsightly web of wires.

While carrying out the underground work, technology that causes minimal damage to the roads has been used. Arrangements have been made to carry out the work at night to avoid affecting vehicular movement and pedestrians. Appropriate measures have also been taken to minimize the impact of dust generated during road excavation on the public.

Source: Kantipur