Construction of first section of Koshi Corridor 220 KV transmission line completed

KATHMANDU: The construction of the first section of the Koshi Corridor 220 KV Transmission Line Project has finally been completed.

The construction of 106 km 220 KV double circuit transmission line from Inaruwa of Sunsari to Tumlingtar of Sankhuwasabha has been completed. As many as 326 towers have been constructed for the transmission line.

Nepal Electricity Authority Managing Director Kulman Ghising said that the infrastructure has been prepared for the flow of electricity of 2,000 MW hydropower projects.

The transmission line will be charged at 33 KV from Tuesday.

“The transmission line will be temporarily charged at 33 KV and electricity generated from private sector projects will be supplied to Bhojpur, Sankhuwasabha and Tehrathum until the completion of construction of 220 KV substation in Inaruwa.

“This will solve the problem of the transmission line that the projects the area have been facing during the rainy season,” Ghising said.

Project Chief Rajan Dhakal informed that three substations have been constructed at Tumlingtar of Sankhuwabha, Baneshwor and Basantapur of Tehrathum.

The Koshi Corridor has been constructed to connect the electricity of the hydropower projects to be constructed in Bhojpur, Sankhuwasabha, Terhathum and Taplejung of Province 1 to the national transmission line. The corridor is being constructed with concessional loan of the Government of Nepal, Electricity Authority and Exim Bank of India.

The Inaruwa-Basantapur-Vaneshwar-Tumlingtar 220 KV double circuit transmission line has been constructed in the first package of the Koshi corridor. The estimated cost of the package is USD 37.5million

The 220 KV substations have been constructed in Inaruwa, Basantapur, Vaneshwar and Tumlingtar in the second phase. The estimated cost of the package is USD 25.3 million.

A contract has been signed for the construction of a 35 km transmission line from Basantapur to Dhungesanghu (Taplejung) in the third package. The construction of 132 towers will be completed by next February.