The long-pending land acquisition process for the construction of a Gas Insulated Substation (GIS) in Balkumari, Lalitpur, has finally been completed. The project can now move forward after the Cabinet approved the use of four ropanis of land owned by Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) for the Nepal Electricity Authority.

The project had been stalled for over four years due to the lack of land. The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation had been actively pushing to resolve the issue, considering the importance of strengthening Kathmandu Valley’s electricity distribution system.

The substation will be constructed with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), with an estimated cost of NPR 2 billion. An underground transmission line from Thimi, Bhaktapur, will be connected to the Balkumari GIS substation and later linked to the Teku substation.

Once completed, the substation is expected to help meet the electricity demand of Kathmandu Valley for the next five years. Additionally, the Nepal Electricity Authority will provide free electricity to a wastewater treatment plant to be established by KUKL in the area. In return, the authority will be allowed to use 3 ropani 13 aana 2 paisa of land for 25 years.

With the land acquisition process completed, authorities are now preparing to call for construction tenders soon.