Kathmandu. The land acquisition process for the construction of a GIS substation at Balkumari of Lalitpur has been completed.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Monday gave approval to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to use four ropanis of land owned by Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL).

The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Resources had taken initiative for the construction of the substation, which had been stalled for long. In order to make the electricity distribution system of Kathmandu Valley, the construction of high capacity GIS substation has been forwarded. However, the project was stalled for more than four years due to lack of land.

The substation will be constructed with loan of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at the cost of Rs two billion. The underground electricity transmission line from Thimi of Bhaktapur will be connected to the GIS Substation at Balkumari. After that, NEA is preparing to connect it to Teku substation.

After the completion of the construction of the substation, it will be easier to meet the electricity demand for the next five years. As per the agreement, the NEA will provide free electricity to the sewage treatment plant to be set up by KUKL at Balkumari and the NEA will use three ropanis 13 ana and two paisa land for 25 years. After the completion of the land acquisition process, tender will be called for the construction of the substation.