The 132 kV Gajryang–Khimti double-circuit transmission line project is all set to transmit 200 MW power from the 12 MW Upper Khimti and 7 MW Upper Khimti II hydropower projects in the Khimti and Likhu river watershed areas.
The state-owned Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) had completed construction of the project in September 2022, to provide reliable power supply and control power losses at the local level. The project involved an investment of USD20 million by the Nepal government. The transmission project entailed the construction of 32-km-long transmission line from Gajryang of Gokulganga Rural Municipality at Ramechhap district that passes through Tamakoshi Rural Municipality of Dolakha to a New Khimti substation at Sankhe (Fulasi) in Manthali Municipality-13 of Ramechhap. In addition, a new 132 kV substation at Gajryang and a 132 kV bay at the New Khimti transmission line have also been developed. The new Gajryang substation has 132/33 kV power transformers with 30 MVA power capacity and 33/11 kV transformers with 8 MVA power capacity for local power supply. In a separate development, NEA has initiated discussions with locals to go ahead with construction of the 220 kV Lapsiphedi substation in Kathmandu, Nepal. Local opposition has been hampering the construction of five towers along the 400 kV Tamakosi–Kathmandu transmission line. The project entails the construction of a 220 kV substation, a power control grid, and the installation of transformers, capacitors, reactors, switchgear, and protection and control equipment. Being financed with a concessional loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), it envisages an investment worth USD30 million. Meanwhile, NEA has also commenced the construction of 400 kV, 220 kV and 132 kV substations in Lapsiphedi for distribution of power from the hydropower projects constructed on the Tamakoshi and Sunkoshi rivers, mainly to the Kathmandu valley.