Kathmandu: Pokhara has started receiving electricity through an underground distribution system, marking a significant milestone in modernizing the city’s power infrastructure. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has begun supplying power through the system under the Pokhara–Bharatpur Distribution System Strengthening Project, improving reliability and enhancing the city’s visual appeal.
In the first phase, the underground network has replaced overhead lines from the Kundahar 132-11 kV substation to areas including Amar Singh Chowk, Buddha Chowk, and the Seti River Bridge, benefiting around 300 customers. The initiative was carried out in coordination with the Mugling-Pokhara Road Expansion Project, ensuring that tangled wires and poles were removed, creating a cleaner cityscape.
NEA had initially planned to underground only up to the Kundahar substation, but later extended the system to Pokhara International Airport’s main entrance. The move aims to ensure that visitors arriving in the city are greeted by an aesthetically pleasing urban environment.
NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising inspected the progress, monitoring the supply of electricity through the underground network while overseeing the removal of overhead structures. During his visit to key areas, including Lakeside and the airport, he instructed the regional NEA team to coordinate with local authorities to expedite the completion of the underground system in Lakeside.
The authority is converting 11 kV and 400-volt lines into underground systems while laying optical fiber, allowing telecom, internet, and cable service providers to use the infrastructure. According to Project Chief Anand Subedi, 54 percent of the construction in Pokhara is complete, and electricity will soon be supplied through the underground network in Lakeside as well.
The transition to an underground system will enhance safety, reduce power disruptions caused by weather conditions, and minimize risks of electrical accidents. It is also expected to significantly improve the city’s infrastructure, ensuring reliable and high-quality electricity distribution.
The Pokhara–Bharatpur Distribution System Strengthening Project is being implemented with funding from NEA’s investment and a concessional loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). In 2021, NEA signed a $16.7 million and Rs 496.8 million contract with Tata Projects Limited, India, for the project’s construction. The work in Pokhara is expected to be completed by mid-July 2025.