Excavation of over 68-km tunnels of Neelum Jhelum Project to be completed by end April WAPDA Chairman visits to review construction work on project

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Lahore – April 13, 2017: The 969 MW-Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project is scheduled to attain a major landmark, when the second Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) will achieve breakthrough of the Right Headrace Tunnel during the last week of April, marking the completion of excavation of over 68-kilometer long tunnel system of the project. The breakthrough of Left Head Race Tunnel was achieved in October 2016.

To review the ongoing construction work on various sites of the project, the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (R) today visited the under construction Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K).

Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman said that it is a matter of satisfaction that overall progress on the project as of now is 92 percent, and the project is heading towards its completion in accordance with the stipulated work plan. During his visit to the headrace tunnel, the Chairman was briefed that following excavation of the tunnels, the water way system will enter the final phase which is scheduled to be completed in seven months. Thereafter, the tunnels will be ready to divert water from Dam site to the Power House. It was further briefed that impounding of the Reservoir will commence during October this year.

Interacting with the field staff, the Chairman said that once completed, Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project will be an engineering marvel of the century. It is worth mentioning that the first unit of the project is planned to commence electricity generation by end February 2018, second in March and the third and fourth in April 2018. The project will contribute about 5 billion units of electricity to the National Grid every year.