Kathmandu, June 4: Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Vice President Jonathan Brooks, who is visiting Nepal, has met with Finance Minister Barshaman Pun.
The team led by Vice President Brooks had a courtesy meeting with Minister Pun on Tuesday at the ministry at Singhdurbar. During the meeting, Minister Pun said that the government is committed to complete the work of the MCC project within the predetermined date. He expressed his commitment to support and coordinate the work that needs to be done by the Ministry to complete the project on time.
“The government is committed to complete the MCC compact project on time,” Finance Minister Pun said.
Vice President Brooks informed about the progress being made in the construction of electricity transmission lines and roads under the MCC project. He said that the progress of the project so far is satisfactory. Under the MCC agreement, 315 km long electricity transmission lines and 77 km roads will be constructed within five years.
The project will also build a cross-border transmission line from Butwal to Gorakhpur in India. A 315 km long ‘double circuit’ 400 kilovolt transmission line will be constructed. Under the project, construction of sub-stations has started at Ratmate in Belkotgadhi municipality of Nuwakot, Damauli in Tanahun and Bhumahi in Nawalparasi West.
Likewise, electricity will be supplied from Ratmate to both the 400 KV sub-station under construction by the Nepal Electricity Authority at Lapsiphedi in Kathmandu and the authority’s 400 KV sub-station at Hetauda in Makawanpur. This sub-station is the biggest transmission line in the country so far, which can transmit electricity with a capacity of 400 kilovolts. 856 towers will be built under the project. The transmission line touches Kathmandu, Nuwakot, Sindhupalchok, Dhading, Makawanpur, Chitwan, Tanahun, Palpa, Nawalpur and West Navparasi districts.
Under the project, three hundred and five kilometers of strategic road network will be maintained and improved. Under East-West Highway, 40 km road extension of Dhankhola-Lamahi road section from Bhaluwang in Dang to the west through new technology and 37 km road repair work of Lamahi-Shivkhola section in Dang and Arghakhanchi of the same highway has been progressed.
In 2017, a project was signed between the MCC of Nepal and the US government. The project was finally implemented after a long time of discussion and debate in the high political leadership. Two years ago, the project was implemented after the parliament approved the agreement.
