Kathmandu’s Underground Electric Cable Expansion: Progress Resumes After Three Years
The underground cable project in the Kathmandu Valley has gained momentum after three years of uncertainty, driven by the active involvement of Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha. An 11-member subcommittee has been formed under the chairmanship of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority to provide recommendations for managing underground cables. In the first phase of the project, 11 kV and 400-volt lines are planned to be laid underground in the Ratnapark and Maharajgunj areas. Kathmandu, 14 Baisakh.
The ‘Underground Cable Project’, initiated to make Kathmandu Valley’s electrical system safer and more aesthetically pleasing, has begun to regain activity after a prolonged period of stagnation. Lack of inter-agency coordination over the past three years led to delays, but the initiative of Energy Minister Shrestha has revived the project. A high-level coordination committee was established on 3 Baisakh 2074 (April 2017) to strengthen the central and northern distribution systems in Kathmandu Valley. The committee convened its sixth meeting on 7 Poush 2079 (December 2022).
The process of laying electric cables underground has reached its final stage; however, challenges have emerged regarding the underground installation of cable and internet lines. Under Minister Shrestha’s instructions, the committee held a meeting on 3 Baisakh 2083 (April 2026). At this meeting, an 11-member subcommittee was appointed under the leadership of a director from the Nepal Telecommunications Authority. The subcommittee was tasked with performing a gap analysis and proposing alternative solutions for the use of optical fiber/cable ducts embedded in the underground electrical infrastructure being constructed by the Nepal Electricity Authority for communication purposes.
Work to bury the cables had previously been halted. Sanjeev Rai, Senior Divisional Engineer (CDE) at the Ministry of Energy’s Electrification, Electricity Trade, and System Expansion Branch, stated that construction of the structure is currently ongoing. Upreti noted that although delays occurred due to the inability to hold high-level coordination meetings, work is now progressing. For the first time in Kathmandu Valley, underground cable installation began on 27 Falgun 2076 (March 2020) on the Ratnapark–Maharajgunj section.
