July 11: The Hetauda-Bharatpur 220 kV transmission line has come into operation. This transmission line is considered important for the smooth supply of power to Makawanpur and Chitwan, among other districts. The Hetauda-Bharatpur section is part of the Hetauda-Bharatpur-Bardaghat Transmission Line Project.    
Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has brought the 73 kilometres long circuit of 220 kV double-circuit transmission line into operation, charging it in the 132 kV for the time-being.

Around 170 megawatts power can be transmitted to and fro Hetauda and Bharatpur with the operation of the Hetauda-Bharatpur section of the transmission line. Only 90 megawatts power was being transmitted to and from Hetauda and Bharatpur from the existing old 132 kV transmission line.    
The Hetauda-Bharatpur-Bardaghat Transmission Line Project was set up with the aim of strengthening and making reliable the transmission lines within Nepal and for transmitting the power generated from hydropower projects constructed in the western region.    
The project was initiated in 2008 with the investment of Government of Nepal and NEA, and with concessional loan from the World Bank. Construction works had been started dividing the Project into two sections – Hetauda-Bharatpur and Bharatpur-Bardaghat.    
The construction of the project was affected due to various reasons such as obstruction by the locals, problem in land acquisition, delays related to the use of forest land and cutting down trees and the poor performance of the construction company.    
After the World Bank withdrew from the project in 2021, the government and NEA has been undertaking the remaining works with their joint investment. -- RSS