MIRPUR (AJK)

Civil works of both the underground powerhouse and transformers hall of 969 MW Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower project are expected to be completed in October this year. Currently pace of work on these components of the project stands at 95.5 percent and 99 percent respectively.
This was briefed to Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Zafar Mehmood during his weekly visit to the project here on Tuesday. The chairman visited powerhouse, transformers hall, manifold area and switchyard of the project to review pace of work.
Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project Chief Executive Officer Engineer Muhammad Zubair, Project Director Nayyar Alauddin and representatives of the consultants and the contractors were present on the occasion.
During the on-site briefing, the Wapda chairman was apprised that subsequent to the completion of civil works of Unit No-3 and 4 of the powerhouse, both units have already been handed over to the electro-mechanical contractor. It was further told that civil works of the switchyard are substantially complete, while electrical and mechanical works will also be completed by October 2016.
The NJ Project Chief Executive Officer said that October 2016 is going to be an important month as tunnel boring machine, deployed on the left tunnel will breakthrough during the month after completion of excavation of the left tunnel. Overall progress on the project stands at 80 percent. The construction work on all three sites namely C1, C2 and C3 is moving ahead at a brisk pace. The progress on C1 is 78 percent, on C2 is 80 percent, while on C3 is 83 percent. Out of total 68.6 kilometre, 62 kilometres long tunnels have so far been excavated.
The Wapda chairman expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved so far on the project. He said that the authority is confident to complete the project according to the revised schedule.
As per revised schedule, first generating unit of the project is expected to be completed in July 2017, whereas the remaining three units will come on line by the end of 2017 in various phases.