Submit your Article

The construction of three 132kV substations in Amlekhgunj and Prasauni (Bara) and Birgunj (Parsa) is in its final stage to enhance the reliability and quality of electricity supply for industrial corridors and general consumers.

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Executive Director Kulman Ghising, after conducting an on-site inspection, directed project managers and contractors to expedite the substation and transmission line construction. Highlighting their importance in managing electricity demand in the Birgunj region and facilitating trade with India, he urged all stakeholders to be responsible and ensure timely completion.

The Amlekhgunj 132/66 kV substation is being developed to address power supply issues in the Pathlaiya-Simara-Birgunj industrial corridor and meet rising demand. Most of the main equipment has been installed, with operations expected to begin by the end of May.

Both circuits of the 66 kV line supplying electricity from Hetauda to the Simara-Birgunj industrial corridor have been looped in and out of the substation. Previously, the long, low-capacity 66 kV line caused voltage issues, which will now be resolved as the 132 kV transmission line becomes the primary power source. The substation is equipped with 132/66 kV, 200 MVA, and 66/11 kV, 20 MVA power transformers.

A 2.8 km 132 kV underground transmission line is under construction to connect Prasauni and Birgunj substations. The underground transmission line is expected to be completed within a month, while installation of equipment and civil works at the substations are ongoing.

Upon completion, the Birgunj area will have 132 kV and 66 kV power sources, ensuring a stable and high-quality electricity supply. Currently, power is supplied to Kalaiya (Bara) from the Birgunj substation, but once the Prasauni substation is operational, supply will be redirected there, reducing the load on Birgunj.

The NEA is expanding high-capacity transmission and distribution infrastructure to support existing and future industries in Simara, Nijgadh, Birgunj, Parwanipur, Pokhariya, and Prasauni within the Bara-Parsa Industrial Corridor. A new 132 kV transmission line from Parwanipur to Pokhariya and the Pokhariya substation is also under construction to meet growing industrial electricity demands.

Additionally, a 400 kV substation is being built in Nijgadh (Bara) under the Hetauda-Dhalkebar-Inruwa 400 kV transmission line project, with an extension to Pokhariya via Ramouli. The proposed 65 km transmission line will include three 400 kV substations in Nijgadh, Ramouli, and Pokhariya. The Nijgadh-Ramouli-Pokhariya transmission line survey has been completed, and land compensation for the Ramouli substation has been finalized.

The Nijgadh substation will be funded through a concessional loan from the Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank), while the 38 km Nijgadh-Ramouli transmission line and Ramouli substation will be financed by the Asian Development Bank. Furthermore, the Aurahi-Simra 132 kV transmission line is being developed to serve the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Simra, Dumarwana, and surrounding areas.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 200 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 173, 300 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 173, 500 per tola on Monday.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1, 980 per tola today.

The government has added 433,703 taxpayers over the first eight months of the current fiscal year 2024-25. In the same period of the previous year, the number of taxpayers had increased by 426,330.

According to the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), the total number of taxpayers reached 6,659,836 by mid-February of the current fiscal year. This represents a 6.97 percent increase in the number of PAN holders over the eight-month period. The total number of taxpayers stood at 6,226,133 in mid-February of 2024.

However, while the number of taxpayers has grown, revenue collection has not increased proportionally. This is largely because the majority of new registrations are for individual Permanent Account Numbers (PAN), which contribute less to revenue compared to business entities.

According to the IRD, individual taxpayers account for 69.3 percent, or 4,612,406, of the total taxpayers. Business PAN holders account for 30.2 percent, or 2,012,586, of the total taxpayers. The remaining 34,844 PANs, or 0.5 percent of the total taxpayers, have been issued to tax-exempt entities.

Total revenue collection has reached Rs 739bn as of March 24. According to the Financial Comptroller General’s Office (FCGO), tax revenue accounts for about 80 percent of the total revenue. The government has mobilized Rs 656.39bn in tax revenue, Rs 82.83bn in non-tax revenue, and Rs 9.20bn in grants as of March 24.

With less than four months remaining in the current fiscal year, the government has reached the halfway point in revenue mobilization. Total revenue mobilization stands at 52.08 percent of the
Rs 1,419.30bn target for the current fiscal year. Progress in tax and non-tax revenue collection stands at 51.11 percent and 61.32 percent, respectively.

Nepal’s revenue-to-GDP ratio, which was 9 percent in 1989-90, increased to 21.6 percent in 2021-22, only to decline to 17.8 percent in 2022-23. Similarly, the tax revenue-to-GDP ratio, which was seven percent in 1989-90, improved to 20 percent by 2021/22 but dropped to 16.1 percent in 2022-23, marking a 4 percent decline.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 30.52 points to close at 2,645.20 points on Monday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 4.76 points to close at 440. 34 points.

A total of 9,739,738-unit shares of 326 companies were traded for Rs 4. 48 billion.

Meanwhile, Guardian Micro Life Insurance Limited (GMLI) was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 9. 29 percent.

Likewise, Upper Hewakhola Hydropower Company Limited (UHEWA) was the top loser as its price fell by 4. 92 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 38 trillion.