Problems in customs clearance of materials related to underground cables, lack of permission from the road department and lack of inter-agency coordination have delayed the work
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The work of undergrounding electric wires in Kathmandu Valley started by Nepal Electricity Authority from February 2076 has not been completed even after the deadline has been extended several times. The 62nd report of the Auditor General has suggested to end the situation of repeatedly extending the deadline to complete the project. It is mentioned in the report of the Accounts General to end the situation of extension of the deadline and complete the project within the stipulated time and cost.
It is mentioned in the report that the deadline of Kathmandu Valley East and South Distribution System Strengthening Project and Kathmandu Valley Central and North Distribution System Strengthening Project has been extended three times. Lalitpur-Bhaktapur Distribution System Strengthening Project and Kathmandu Valley West Distribution System Strengthening Project have been extended one time. It is mentioned in the report of the Accounts General that the deadline for the second time extension is in the process after the completion of the work of Kathmandu Valley West Distribution System.
As the road department does not allow digging in new places in June, July and August, the authority said that even the work of undergrounding electric wires cannot be done during the rainy season. Authority spokesman Rajbhai Shilpkar said that the work was delayed due to problems in passing the customs of materials related to underground cables, lack of permission from the road department and lack of inter-agency coordination.
In Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur alone, the work of undergrounding electric wires is being done through four projects. 4 projects have been contracted for a total of 3 billion 58 crore 63 lakh rupees. According to the General Account, 1 billion 79 million 4 lakh rupees have been spent till February 2081.
Along with the electricity distribution system, the authority has got the job of undergrounding the structures including internet, telephone, cable television line and optical fiber. The authority's plan is to remove electric poles by making these structures modern and technology-friendly. In the first phase, the authority started work in areas under Ratnapark and Maharajganj distribution centers in Kathmandu to make the power distribution system of Kathmandu Valley underground, strengthening and automating it. In the second phase, the rest of Kathmandu, and in the third phase, the distribution system of urban areas of Lalitpur and Bhaktapur were started to be underground, strengthened and automated.
Only 81.12 percent of the Kathmandu Valley East and South Distribution System Strengthening Project and 76.38 percent of the Kathmandu Valley Central and North Distribution System Strengthening Project have made material progress. Lalitpur-Bhaktapur Distribution System Strengthening Project and Kathmandu Valley West Distribution System Strengthening Project have achieved 46.51 and 80.88 percent physical progress respectively.
According to the authority, 33 and 11,000 voltage and 400 voltage underground lines will be constructed as well as optical fiber will be laid. The authority has said that this will end the ugliness of the city, which has become ugly due to the hidden wires of electricity, telephone, and internet service providers, and add beauty. The authority said that the underground system will be safer than the current overhead distribution system and the beauty of the city can be maintained by removing the mesh of wires that are making the city ugly.
When working underground, a technique is used that causes minimal damage to the road. Arrangements have been made to work at night so as not to affect the movement of vehicles and pedestrians on the road. Appropriate arrangements have been made to reduce the impact of the dust released from road digging on the citizens.
