In a landmark achievement for Nepal’s energy sector, the private sector has successfully completed a critical 28-kilometer section of the Marsyangdi Corridor–Bharatpur 220 kV transmission line. The project, which had been languishing in limbo for over seven years under a foreign contractor, was finished in just one and a half years after local private developers took the reins.

This success marks a monumental shift, proving that the domestic private sector is capable of not only generating hydropower but also building vital transmission infrastructure and managing power trade.

From Stagnation to Rapid Execution

The project's timeline highlights a stark contrast between its initial phase and the private sector's intervention:

Following years of delays, the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) handed construction responsibilities to the private sector late in 2081 BS. Seven private hydropower projects operating in the Marsyangdi Corridor formed a joint committee to resolve local disputes, manage finances, and accelerate the work. The group awarded the contract to Viva Construction and Engineering Concern and Geography Infrastructure Company with an investment of approximately Rs 49.69 million.

Joint Private Sector Investors

The infrastructure was funded by private developers promoting the following hydropower projects:

• Super Dordi (54 MW)
• Dordi Khola (27 MW)
• Dordi Khola-1 (12 MW)
• Nyadi (30 MW)
• Super Chepekhola (9.05 MW)
• Chepe Khola (8.60 MW)

"The completion of this section has proved that the private sector is fully capable of constructing transmission lines. We have created a new history by completing in 18 months what could not be done in seven years."

— Uttam Blon Lama, Senior Vice President of the Independent Power Producers' Association, Nepal (IPPAN).

Infrastructure Specs & Current Status

The newly completed section stretches from the New Marsyangdi substation (Abukhairani, Tanahun) to the New Bharatpur substation (Anptari, Chitwan).

• Line Capacity: 220 kV Double Circuit
• Length: 28 Kilometers
• Funding: Joint investment by the Government of Nepal, the NEA, and loan assistance from the European Investment Bank.
• Current Status: The NEA has initiated testing by supplying 220 kV of electricity into the line. Regular operations will commence immediately following successful test outcomes.

A Milestone for Nepal's National Grid

This transmission line acts as a critical artery to channel electricity generated from various private hydro projects along the Marsyangdi, Dordi, and Trishuli rivers into the national grid. Previously, lack of infrastructure meant this power was at risk of being wasted.

Former NEA Managing Director and Energy Minister Kulman Ghising lauded the project as an excellent model of public-private partnership. He noted that financial facilitation and coordination for this project were heavily prioritized during his leadership. Ghising also urged the government to implement urgent legal reforms regarding deforestation, land acquisition, and administrative processes to ensure other national infrastructure projects face fewer bottlenecks in the future