Electrical wires continue to dangle over the streets of the Kathmandu Valley even though underground cabling has been completed in most core areas. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) says the main hurdle is the inability to install service connections to households due to poor coordination with local governments.

The clustered, tangled wires on electric poles have caused repeated short circuits and several fire incidents, besides spoiling the Capital city’s appearance.

“We completed cable-laying works months ago, and in some areas years ago, and have also completed testing and charging of some sub-stations,” said Suman Shrestha, chief of the Kathmandu Valley East and South Distribution System Enhancement Project. “But without permission from local governments to set up service cables (that connect households), we cannot operate the underground electricity network.”

Along with overhead electric cables, the capital city is unlikely to get rid of overhead internet and telephone cables any time soon, as no decision has been made to put them underground. This would require huge investment, according to officials.

Meanwhile, work to lay colourful tiles and bricks on pavements in Kathmandu and Lalitpur is in full swing. The two local units—Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Lalitpur Metropolitan City—have assigned the pavement improvement and brick-laying works to multiple contractors, who are responsible for repairing pavements damaged within the past five years.

“Multiple agencies are working in the same places at once, and coordination is poor,” said Shrestha. “The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has given permission to set up service cables in some areas, but we still have not received permission in many others.”

The NEA said that cable-laying work in Lainchaur-Jamal, Tripureshwar-Teku, Lainchaur-Panipokhari, and Sorhakhutte-Teku stretches were completed months ago. Work is in full swing in Chuchepati, Gaushala, and Airport areas. Cable laying has been completed in Nayabazar, Dhobikhol corridor, Mahankal, Maharajgunj, and Balaju.

Likewise, NEA’s Kathmandu Valley West Distribution System Enhancement Project said cable-laying has either been completed is or near completion in the Tinkune-Koteshwar, New Baneshwar-Old Baneshwar, Mulpani, Cahbahil, Kirtipur-Kuleshwar, and Baneshwar-Jorpati road sections.

“Charging of substations has been completed in many areas,” said Piyush Malakar, chief of the project. “We can operate underground cables within three months if we get permission to set up service cables.”

The Lalitpur-Bhaktapur Distribution System Reinforcement Project said work on the main roads of Bhaktapur has been completed, and work in some areas of Lalitpur district is also complete.

“We have good coordination with the local governments in Bhaktapur and have almost completed the cable-laying work,” said Dipesh Shrestha, chief of the project. “In Lalitpur, pavements have already been tiled in some areas, while work is in full swing in others. We have been coordinating with relevant officials for permission.”

The NEA started underground cable-laying work some nine years ago to improve the electricity distribution system. The joint project of the Nepal government and the Asian Development Bank also aimed to remove dangling electrical wires, which have tarnished the Capital city’s appearance.

The NEA has already removed all dangling wires and electric poles from the Newroad-Indrachowk area.

In the past, the NEA had issued a public notice asking internet service providers to remove wires from electric poles within six months as part of its plan to remove all poles from Kathmandu streets. Officials, however, concede that it is easier said than done.

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City had also given an ultimatum to internet and communication service providers to manage the tangled cables, and had removed tonnes of defunct wires in the past. But the problems with dangling wires have neither been properly managed nor solved.

Officials at the city office said that the issue is not only with overhead electric cables, but overhead internet and telephone wires are also cluttering the Capital’s streets.

“Removing electric poles without first planning where to place internet and telephone cables, and security cameras, is not feasible,” said Mahesh Kumar Kafle, deputy spokesperson of the city office. “A huge investment is required to manage these cables.”