Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Millennium Challenge Account Nepal (MCA-Nepal) has relaunched the call for bids to build a 297-km power transmission line.
MCA invited bids from interested companies on November 27, giving them until January 30 to submit their proposals.
The transmission line has been divided into three lots: Lapsiphedi-Ratamate-New Hetauda, Ratamate-New Damauli, and New Damauli-New Butwal.
According to MCA-Nepal, the relaunch follows a comprehensive review of the previous bidding process and includes design optimisations, improved access to tower locations, and updates to commercial terms based on feedback received from bidders. “These adjustments address the main cost drivers identified in the initial bids, ensuring more feasible and cost-effective proposals,” it added in a statement issued on Wednesday.
The transmission line will strengthen Nepal’s power transmission network.
Earlier, on August 30, MCA-Nepal awarded a $123.6 million contract to Transrail Lighting Ltd to construct the Nepal section of the Butwal-Gorakhpur cross-border transmission line (18 km). The project is set to be completed within 21 months. “After securing the contract for the 18 km segment, we are confident that the redesigned requirements for the remaining 297 km will attract strong market interest and competitive bids,” said Khadga Bahadur Bisht, Executive Director of MCA-Nepal, in the statement.
Work is underway on three 400 kV substations and the 18 km transmission line under the electricity transmission component of MCA-Nepal projects funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation of the US government.
