Chitwan. Groundwater electrification in the urban areas of Bharatpur Metropolitan City has been 65 percent complete. The work has been intensified after the Chhath Puja with the objective of completing the underground electrification within the next four months.

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA)’s Pokhara-Bharatpur Distribution System Strengthening Project has been operating underground electrification. Chief engineer of the project, Ananda Subedi, informed Republica Online that the wires have been installed in 65 per cent area at present. After this is over, we will connect electricity to the house. “The construction of Bharatpur side will be completed soon if the contractor company accelerates it immediately after Chhath. ’

Stating that 75 percent of the work has been completed, Engineer Subedi said pipe installation, device installation and foundation construction have been completed. According to him, the deadline to complete the work of Bharatpur and Pokhara has been extended till July 2026. Stating that the deadline was extended for the third time in the second week of September, he said that 60 percent of the work of underground electricity in Pokhara has been completed.

Chief Engineer Subedi said that only 33 KVA and 400 volt power line would be laid underground on the road from Central Bus Terminal to Gondrang but now it has been added to the 11 KVA and 400 volt transmission line.

As per the latest agreement, works are being carried out underground in the main urban areas of Bharatpur Metropolitan City for the installation of transmission line within the metropolis. According to project chief engineer Subedi, the estimated cost is Rs 1.40 billion for installing underground electric wires in the metropolis. Initially, the government had allocated a budget of Rs 1.30 billion.

The contract for the construction was awarded to India’s Tata Project Limited. The work started after signing the contract in October 2021. According to the project office, the deadline for the first phase expired on January 20, 2024 and the deadline has been extended time and again. The project was developed with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank.