RPGCL Moves Ahead With a Rs 20 Billion 400 kV Power Highway in Western Nepal

Nepal’s western power corridor is getting a major upgrade. Rastriya Prasaran Grid Company Limited, or RPGCL, has applied for a construction license for the Bajhang-Banlek transmission line, a 400 kV project designed to move 2,500 MW of electricity across Sudurpashchim Province.

The line is estimated to cost Rs 20 billion and will stretch about 60 kilometers, linking the Chainpur substation in Jayaprithvi Municipality, Bajhang, with the Banlek substation in Shikhar Municipality, Doti. The project is part of a broader effort to build the high-capacity grid infrastructure needed to carry power from Nepal’s fast-growing hydropower sector to demand centers.

A key link in western Nepal’s energy future

The new transmission line is not just a local infrastructure project. At 400 kV, it is being positioned as a major backbone line for the region, capable of handling large volumes of electricity as generation capacity expands in the Seti basin and surrounding areas.

According to the project details, the line will help create a stronger evacuation route for power from hydropower plants in western Nepal, reducing a major bottleneck between generation sites and the national grid.

Why this project matters

Nepal has been adding hydropower projects rapidly, but transmission capacity often lags behind generation. That mismatch can delay the benefits of new plants, limit electricity exports, and leave valuable energy stranded during peak production periods. A high-voltage corridor like Bajhang-Banlek is meant to solve exactly that problem.

By enabling the flow of 2,500 MW, the line could become a critical piece of the region’s clean-energy infrastructure, supporting both domestic supply and the long-term growth of Nepal’s power economy.

What happens next

RPGCL’s application now moves the project into the regulatory review phase. Once the construction license is approved by the Department of Electricity Development, the company can advance toward the next stages of implementation, including detailed preparation and eventual construction planning.

The move signals that the project is no longer just a concept on paper. It is entering the formal pipeline for execution, which is an important milestone for one of western Nepal’s most consequential transmission projects.

Part of a wider transmission buildout

The Bajhang-Banlek line also fits into a larger pattern of transmission development across Nepal. RPGCL has been pushing forward with multiple high-voltage lines in different regions, reflecting the growing urgency to expand the national grid in step with power generation.

In practical terms, the new line could help turn remote hydropower potential into usable national capacity, making the grid more resilient and better prepared for future demand.