LAHORE (APP): The National Transmission and Despatch Company Limited (NTDCL) has expedited construction work of 145 kilometer long 500 kV Neelum Jhelum Double Circuit Transmission Line for evacuation of 969 MW power from Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Plant.
This transmission line project is of national importance, being constructed on very difficult and mountainous terrains of AJK, which would be completed prior to commissioning of the Neelum Jhehlum Hydropower Plant, according to NTDCL spokesman here Sunday.
He said NTDC Managing Director Dr Fiaz Ahmad Chaudhry and GM GSC Wajahat Saeed Rana visited various sites near Muzaffarabad, AJK, to review the construction work of the aforementioned transmission line.
Project Director EHV Manzoor Ahmad briefed the Management that the transmission line work was divided into three Lots ie LOT-1, LOT-2 & Lot-3 and overall 68 percent work had already been completed.
Major construction activities includes right of way clearance, foundations, erections and stringing of towers as per the prescribed design. He further pointed out that right of way issues were seriously impacting the construction work.
Consequently, the NTDCL Managing Director held meetings with local administration, assistant commissioner, SHO, tehsildar and local representative of Minhasa, Dheerkot District Bagh to resolve such issues on urgent basis.
Assistant commissioner assured the NTDC management to provide his full cooperation for this vital project for the nation. As a result, the construction work on tower No 37 of Lot-1 resumed, which remained held up for almost a week. He also visited the Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Plant.
Dr. Fiaz Ahmad and his team also met the contractor and consultant engineers and instructed them to boost up the construction work on war footing and asked them to submit progress reports on daily, weekly and monthly basis.
He advised his team to monitor the construction progress regularly. He said that NTDCL was committed to complete its transmission project on time as required by Ministry of Water and Power and to support government's efforts to eliminate load-shedding from the country.
Further meeting of all stakeholders of the project is scheduled at NTDC Headquarter tomorrow (Monday) to review ongoing situation of Neelum Jhelum Transmission Line.