Nepal Electricity Authority Coordinates with Local Bodies for Roadside Pole Relocation

Kathmandu. The Nepal Electricity Authority has initiated coordination with local levels to relocate electricity poles located in the middle of main urban roads that are obstructing road expansion, traffic operation, and public safety.

This is being done under the 'Shifting of Poles in the Middle of Roads in Main Cities of Local Bodies and Operation of Road Safety Project' under the Nepal Government's fiscal year 2083-84 program. For the implementation of the program, local levels must identify poles within their jurisdiction that are in the middle of the road, increasing the risk of accidents, or obstructing road expansion, and coordinate with the concerned Nepal Electricity Authority distribution center.

The Authority has urged to prepare proposals without overlapping with the plans and programs of local levels, the Department of Roads, and other relevant bodies. The proposal must include the name of the concerned district, local level, ward, road or location, the number of poles to be relocated, wires and necessary materials, estimated cost, and work priority. After the distribution center prepares its program within its area, the program will be advanced through the provincial or divisional office. It is expected that relocating poles from the middle of the road will reduce the risk of vehicle accidents, facilitate road expansion and footpath construction, and make public transportation operation safer and more organized.

Similarly, a program will also be advanced to remove unused and disorganized old poles, wires, and cables in areas where underground systems have been implemented. Considering that the urban aesthetic has not improved as expected and problems have arisen in road and pedestrian path management due to the presence of old poles and wires on the road even after the underground electricity system was prepared, the 'Pole-Wire Management and Urban Beautification Project' is being launched. The concerned distribution center will identify the condition of areas where underground electricity structures have been built, remove unused poles and wires, organize necessary structures, and prepare beautification programs in accordance with the long-term development plan of the road.

According to Authority sources, the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has directed the concerned ministries of the Nepal Government, local levels, the Department of Roads, and other stakeholders to effectively coordinate and implement the program. Emphasis has been placed on integrated planning and joint coordination to reduce duplicate expenses, repeated road excavation, public inconvenience, and disruptions to electricity supply that occur when different bodies work in the same location at different times.

Rajan Dhakal, Chief of the Distribution and Customer Services Directorate of the Nepal Electricity Authority, has instructed the provincial and divisional offices to immediately coordinate with the concerned distribution centers and local levels to prepare programs on a priority basis. Authority sources have stated that with his active initiative, plans are being advanced to maximize the use of available resources and materials, properly manage reusable poles and other materials, and minimize disruptions to electricity supply during work. The Authority believes that the goals of road safety, electricity infrastructure management, and urban beautification can be successfully achieved with the implementation of this plan.