Construction of New Butwal-Bardaghat Transmission Line completes

Kathmandu, December 13 — Construction of new Butwal-Bardaghat 220 kV Double Circuit Transmission Line has been completed.

The construction of this transmission line will contribute to strengthen and make country's power transmission system trustworthy, facilitating the supply of electricity produced from hydropower projects to be constructed in western areas and expanding bilateral and regional power trade between Nepal and India.

The 21.5 kilometers long transmission line from new Butwal sub-station located at Sunwal municipality-13 to Bardaghat municipality-5 has been charged from Thursday.

Likewise, the 220-kV transmission line from new Bharatpur sub-station at Bharatpur metropolis-11 to new Butwal sub-station has been charged.

With the operation of new Butwal-Bardaghat transmission line, physical infrastructures for 220-kV transmission line from Butwal to Hetauda have been prepared.

The transmission line can carry around 1200 megawatts electricity. Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Kul Man Ghising, said the 220-kV transmission line, the backbone for east-west power supply, has been prepared.

"It will be easier to export surplus power to India via Dhalkebar during rainy season and to supply power to western areas by importing during winter season. The construction of new Butwal-Gorakhpur second cross border transmission line will open door for electricity export and import," he stressed.

Mainly, it would be easier for supply of power generated from Kaligandaki, Marsyangdi and tributaries of these rivers. Power produced from hydropower projects to be constructed at Marsyangdi river watershed would be assorted at new Bharatpur sub-station via Marsyangdi corridor 220-kV transmission line.

Power could be supplied to Hetauda and new Butwal from new Bharatpur. Construction of 400-kV new Butwal-Gorakhpur Cross-Border Transmission Line is underway.

The estimated cost of new Butwal-Bardaghat transmission line is around one billion rupees. It is being constructed with the investment of the government and concessional loan of the Asian Development Bank.