The Nepal Electricity Authority has brought Karnali Province’s first 132 kV transmission line into operation.

Managing Director Hitendra Dev Shakya said the Kohalpur–Surkhet section of the Kohalpur–Surkhet–Dailekh 132 kV transmission line has come into operation and would support Karnali Province’s economic growth.

He said electricity supply to Karnali had relied on a 33 kV line, leading to overloading, frequent outages and low-voltage problems. These issues are expected to improve significantly with the new line. Shakya added that the project would help attract large industries to Karnali, where electricity would account for a major share of industrial costs.

During a site inspection in the last week of December, Shakya had instructed the contractor to accelerate work on the project.

Project chief Rabi Kumar Chaudhary said the roughly 52-kilometre Kohalpur–Surkhet section was completed quickly in line with the authority’s mandate. He said work on the Surkhet–Dailekh section would now move ahead at a faster pace.