Nepal-India Agree to Complete Chameliya-Jauljibi Transmission Line by 2027

The 17th meeting of the Nepal–India Joint Technical Team (JTT) of the joint secretary level concluded with an agreement to strengthen electricity exchange, upgrade transmission infrastructure, and construct new cross-border transmission lines.

During the meeting, both countries presented their respective detailed project reports (DPRs) for the 220 kV double-circuit Chameliya–Jauljibi transmission line. Nepal and India agreed to complete the construction of the line by December 2027.

According to Sandeep Kumar Dev, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, the two sides agreed to finalize the joint DPR by the end of November. He said that since the DPR has not yet been completed, the total project cost remains undetermined. Compensation and related procedures are still under review, leaving the investment amount uncertain. Dev added that the investment details are expected to be finalized by the end of this month.

The meeting also agreed to operate the new Butwal–Gorakhpur 400 kV transmission line temporarily at 220 kV. To determine the import-export capacity through this line, Nepal and India will hold a meeting with Uttar Pradesh Transmission Company within 15 days. The meeting will also discuss further steps related to this project, Dev said.

Similarly, the two sides reassessed the power exchange capacity through the Dhalkebar–Muzaffarpur and Dhalkebar–Sitamarhi lines. As per the new assessment, Nepal will be able to export up to 1,500 MW and import up to 1,400 MW of electricity through these cross-border links.

Nepal will also provide the necessary technical details within one month to prepare the DPR for the 400 kV double-circuit Nijgadh–Motihari transmission line. The joint technical team will then finalize the joint DPR for the project.

The meeting further agreed to conduct a joint study to determine whether Lamahi or Kohalpur will serve as Nepal’s endpoint for the proposed 400 kV Lamahi–Lucknow transmission line before preparing its DPR.

Both sides also agreed to prepare a DPR for the reconductoring of the Dhalkebar–Muzaffarpur 400 kV line using high-temperature-resistant technology. In addition, they will jointly study the possibility of upgrading the Raxaul–Parwanipur and Ramnagar–Gandak 132 kV lines by replacing existing conductors with HTML conductors to enhance capacity.

The two-day meeting, held in Pokhara on November 3 and 4, was co-chaired by Joint Secretary Sandeep Kumar Dev from Nepal’s Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation and Chief Engineer Shri Bhagwan Sahay Bairwa from India’s Central Electricity Authority.