Matatirtha-Chobhar 132 kV Line Completed, Valley Power Supply to Improve

Kathmandu: Construction of the Matatirtha-Chobhar section of the Thankot-Chapagaun-Bhaktapur 132 kV transmission line project has been completed.

This 6-kilometer section—considered crucial for strengthening the Kathmandu Valley's electricity supply system and enhancing its reliability and quality—is set to be brought into operation through charging, starting Friday.

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) stated that once the line is operational, the Matatirtha-Chobhar section will be integrated into the national grid, facilitating the regular flow of electricity.

NEA Executive Director Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha said the operation of the Matatirtha-Chobhar transmission line and the Chobhar substation would make it easier to maintain electricity supply in the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding areas. He informed that the construction of an approximately 4.5-kilometer 132 kV underground transmission line from the Chobhar substation to Patan is being advanced with high priority.

To manage the rising electricity demand in the Kathmandu Valley during the upcoming winter season, the NEA had decided on September 25 to charge the Matatirtha-Chobhar transmission line within 15 days. Two bays have been constructed at the Chobhar substation as part of the necessary infrastructure for charging the line.

The Thankot-Chapagaun-Bhaktapur transmission line project was initiated with the objective of creating a 132 kV transmission line ring structure covering Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur, thereby ensuring an adequate, safe, reliable, and high-quality electricity supply for the Valley. The construction of a 132/11 kV substation at Chobhar was initiated as an alternative measure after the transmission line construction—originally planned for the Khokana, Bungamati, Harisiddhi, and Lamatar areas of Lalitpur—was hindered by local opposition.

The Chobhar substation is equipped with nine 11 kV feeders to facilitate local electricity distribution. It will supply power to areas including Kirtipur, Pharping, Pulchowk, and Ekantakuna. Once the substation becomes operational, it is expected to improve voltage levels and enhance the reliability and quality of the power supply in these regions.

Electricity generated by hydropower projects located primarily in the Trishuli and Marsyangdi river basins is currently supplied to the Kathmandu Valley via the Matatirtha substation. The NEA has stated that the operation of a 132 kV transmission line connecting the Matatirtha substation to the Chobhar substation will provide an additional alternative route for the Valley's power supply system.

A 132 kV underground transmission line spanning approximately 4.5 kilometers is currently under construction, running from the Chobhar substation through the Ring Road to the Lagankhel (Patan) substation in Lalitpur. In conjunction with this, work is underway to upgrade the Patan substation to enable its operation at the 132 kV level.

The Thankot-Chapagaun-Bhaktapur 132 kV transmission line project was launched in the fiscal year 1998/99 with investment from the Government of Nepal and the NEcity Authority. Construction of the transmission line sections serving Kathmandu and Bhaktapur has already been completed. Preparations are underway to energize the transmission line section extending to Chobhar on the Kathmandu side.

However, construction on the Lalitpur section has stalled because residents in the Khokana, Bungamati, Harisiddhi, and Lamatar areas have obstructed the work, demanding a change in the transmission line's route. This has hindered efforts to operate the Kathmandu Valley's 132 kV transmission system as a complete ring network.