India to enhance cross border transmission lines to Nepal

India's Ministry of External Affairs and Powergrid have inked the agreement for strengthening cross-border transmission lines to Nepal.

This will allow the exportation of enhanced quantum of electricity to Nepal.

The draft agreement had been repeatedly revised to accommodate Powergrid's amendments for months now.
Issues such as taking over and operation and maintenance of lines, issuance of relevant sales tax forms by state utilities and statutory environment and forest clearances were some of the proposed changes necessitated by Powergrid for inclusion in the final agreement.

The Ministry of External Affairs has also released the much needed mobilization advance to PGCIL, which has committed to conclude works associated with short-term measures progressively within six months from the date of provision of 15% mobilization advance.

For the short term measures, the Nepalese side has requested that the system strengthening, as identified under the short term, be implemented expeditiously to help export approximately 75 MW of additional power from India.