SURKHET: A 1.7 km long 132 kV transmission line will be constructed to integrate the 46.8 MW of electricity generated by the national pride Bheri-Babai Diversion Multipurpose Project into the national grid via the Kohalpur-Surkhet line.

The proposed route will feature nine towers, with three located in the core area of Bardiya National Park and six in its buffer zone, impacting Bheri Ganga Municipality-5 in Surkhet and parts of the park.

Currently, the overall project has achieved 70% physical progress and 57% financial progress, with the tunnel complete while civil, hydro-mechanical, and electro-mechanical works are ongoing.

Information Officer Hari Bahadur Thapa noted that completion will take another three years, prompting Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha to recently inspect the site and order accelerated construction.