ISLAMABAD: The civil works of the both underground powerhouse and transformers hall of the 969MW Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project are expected to be completed in October this year, as progress of civil works 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 Mahmood during his weekly visit to the project on Tuesday, said a press release. The chairman visited powerhouse, transformers hall, manifold area and switchyard of the project to review progress of construction work. During the on-site briefing, the chairman was apprised that subsequent to the completion of civil works of unit no. 3 and 4 of the powerhouse, both units had already been handed over to the electro-mechanical contractor. It was further told that the civil works of the switchyard are substantially completed, while electrical and mechanical works would also be completed by October. Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Zubair said that October is going to be an important month as tunnel boring machine, deployed on the left tunnel, would breakthrough during the said month after completing the excavation work on 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 good pace. The progress on C1 is 78 percent, on C2 is 80 percent, while on C3 is 83 percent,” he informed the WAPDA chief. “Out of total 68.6 kilometres, 62 kilometres long tunnels have so far been excavated.” The WAPDA chairman expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved so far on the project. Appreciating devotion and hard work of the project authorities, he said that WAPDA 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 would come on line by the end of 2017 in various phases. Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Company is constructing a world-class underground power generation facility. The project envisages 90 percent construction work under high mountainous overburden and only 10 percent above the surface. The project, on its completion, would contribute 5.15 billion units of low-cost and environment friendly electricity to the national grid. Project Director Nayyar Alaud Din and representatives of the consultants and the contractors were also present on the occasion.