Cables go underground in Pokhara

By Phadindra Adhikari,Lekhnath, Jan. 14: The six-lane road section from Pokhara International Airport to Prithvi Chowk now stands free of electricity poles and overhead internet wires. 

The Nepal Electricity Authority has connected every household to electricity through underground cables on this section of the Prithvi Highway. 

Work is underway with the goal of extending underground electricity lines across major highways, the entire Lakeside area, and most parts of the main market within current fiscal year.

According to the Pokhara–Bharatpur Distribution System Strengthening Project, of NEA, physical progress in the Pokhara section has reached 65 per cent, while work in Bharatpur is 85 per cent complete. 

Project Chief Engineer Ananda Subedi said that if work continues at the current pace, the project will be completed within this fiscal year.

“Electricity through underground cables has already been supplied to around 600 households from the international airport to Prithvi Chowk,” Subedi said. “The project deadline is June 30, and if the current momentum is maintained, the major works will be completed on time.”

The underground cabling is being carried out in areas, including the stretch from the international airport to Prithvi Chowk, Srijana Chowk, Ratna Chowk, Rastra Bank Chowk, Sahid Chowk, Lakeside, and from Hallan Chowk through Bulaundi to Zero Kilometre. 

At present, work is ongoing in the Srijana Chowk–Assembly Hall–Zero Kilometre area and the Jarebar section of Lakeside. While laying underground electricity cables for about 23 kilometres in Pokhara, cables have also been laid to provide telephone and internet services. 

Indian company Tata Projects has been awarded the contract to lay the cables in Pokhara and Bharatpur for Rs. 2.53 billion. Internet cables to be laid underground

The metropolis has also taken the initiative to enhance the beauty of Pokhara, which is marred by electricity and internet cables. 

The metropolis has requested internet service providers to work with the project to provide internet services through underground cables in places where electricity cables are to be laid underground and to remove unnecessary cables elsewhere.

Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City Dhanraj Acharya has directed the authorities to provide services through underground wires and remove unnecessary wires elsewhere within a month. 

“We have asked them to remove unnecessary wires within a month, otherwise the metropolis will remove them itself,” Acharya said.

Project Chief Engineer Subedi said that the process would become smoother once clear guidelines are developed on how private service providers can use underground infrastructure. “For now, we have asked them to place pipes and fibre cables in the same trenches we have dug so that services can continue,” he said. “Once our guidelines are finalised, services can be provided through the cables we have installed.”

He added that it would not be feasible to provide separate cables to every internet service provider, suggesting the creation of a separate company or a shared system for joint use.

Meanwhile, Project Chief Subedi said that it will be easier once the procedure is in place to allow private service providers to use underground cables. 

He said, “Right now, we have asked them to provide service even if it is by placing pipes and fiber in the trenches dug for laying the cables. Once our procedure is in place, we can provide service through the cables we have laid.” 

As it is not possible to provide different cables to all internet service providers, he urges them to form a separate company or come together for joint use.

“Talks are underway on removing unnecessary wires and providing services through a shared cable for all ISPs,” he said. “This cannot be done overnight, and it would be much easier once the NEA issues clear guidelines on the use of underground cables.”