MYAGDI: Construction work has officially started on the 180-megawatt Kaligandaki Gorge Hydropower Project in Myagdi district.
The project promoter, Kaligandaki Gorge Hydropower Pvt Ltd, began tunnel construction on Monday at Bhalebas in Annapurna Rural Municipality–4. Project director Raman Singh said the project is expected to be completed within the next four years.
The project features a 5.6-kilometre headrace tunnel, while the powerhouse is planned at Gharap in Annapurna Rural Municipality–4. A barrage will be constructed at Ghansama in Thasang Rural Municipality–4. A run-of-the-river design will also include a one-kilometre penstock pipeline.
According to officials, civil contractor South Asian Infrastructure has already been mobilized at the site. Preparations for project offices, contractor facilities, Nepali Army accommodation, residential buildings, and an explosives storage facility are in the final stage.
An 8-kilometre access road has already been completed, while efforts are underway to install a Bailey bridge at Gadpar to improve site access. Similarly, a 220 kV transmission line stretching from Gharap to Dana has been built to connect the project to the national grid.
The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 40 billion, financed by a consortium of banks led by Global IME Bank, along with Laxmi Sunrise Bank, Himalayan Bank, and Prabhu Bank.
Project officials said locals from affected areas will be allotted 10 percent of the project’s shares.
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