February 5: The construction of a 220 KV substation in Bahrabise Municipality, Sindhupalchok has reached its final stage. According to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the construction of the final phase of the substation is in full swing with a target of completing the work within two months.

According to the NEA, the overall progress of the substation construction has reached about 95 percent. Another 400 KV substation is also under construction in Bahrabise. Electricity of the 102 megawatts produced by the Mid-Bhotekoshi Hydroelectric Project (MBKHEP) built in Sindhupalchowk under the leadership of Chilime Hydropower Company Limited, a subsidiary of NEA, will be connected to this substation.

The electricity generated from MBKHEP will be connected to Bahrabise substation through a 220 KV transmission line. The construction of the transmission line has been obstructed due to the protests led by the residents of Palanti in Bahrabise Municipality-3 and 4. 

The NEA is under pressure to complete the Bahrabise substation as soon as possible to prevent the electricity generated from the project from being wasted without being connected to the national transmission line.

After monitoring the substation construction site on Saturday, NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising instructed the contractor to complete the construction of the substation within two months by adding more manpower.

The construction of the substation has been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the poor performance of the joint venture of Guangxi Transmission and Substation Construction Co and Shenzen Electronics Co Ltd which was awarded the contract for the construction of twelve substations. -- RSS