According to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the transmission line running from the Matatirtha substation to the Chobhar substation is scheduled to be charged starting Friday. Once energized, the section will link directly to the national grid, ensuring regular and reliable electricity distribution.
NEA Executive Director Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha stated that the operation of this new line and the Chobhar substation will greatly facilitate a balanced supply and demand dynamic for electricity throughout the Kathmandu Valley and its surrounding areas.
The broader Thankot-Chapagaun-Bhaktapur project was originally initiated in the fiscal year 2055/56 BS, backed by investments from the Government of Nepal and the NEA. Its primary objective is to establish a robust 132 kV ring structure encircling Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur districts to deliver secure, stable, and high-quality power. While sections toward Kathmandu and Bhaktapur have already been finished, this latest stretch provides an essential alternative route for power evacuated mainly from the Trishuli and Marsyangdi river catchment areas.
To overcome local resistance that previously stalled construction in Khokana, Bungmati, Harisiddhi, and Lamatar, the 132/11 kV substation at Chobhar was fast-tracked as an alternative node. Equipped with nine 11 kV local feeders, the Chobhar substation will distribute electricity to Kirtipur, Pharping, Pulchowk, Ekantakuna, and nearby localities, significantly improving voltage levels and supply reliability.
Looking ahead, authorities have prioritized the construction of a 4.5-kilometer 132 kV underground transmission line stretching from the Chobhar substation to the Lagankhel (Patan) substation in Lalitpur, alongside the concurrent upgrading of the Patan substation to a 132 kV standard.
Despite these advancements, the realization of the full 132 kV transmission ring structure remains partially incomplete. Ongoing protests and obstruction by local residents in the Khokana, Bungmati, Harisiddhi, and Lamatar areas continue to halt progress on remaining segments of the project.
