Flood Damage Forces Nepal to Rethink Road and Bridge Designs

The government has begun preparations to revise the design codes and standards for roads and bridges as damage from floods and landslides continues to increase in recent years. Plans are also underway to establish a Maintenance and Disaster Resilience Unit and create positions for disaster-expert engineers to strengthen infrastructure preparedness and response. Government officials said recent disasters in areas including Melamchi, Jomsom–Korala, Mechi Highway, BP Highway and Bhotekoshi–Rasuwa have exposed weaknesses in existing infrastructure designs. Infrastructure Development Ministry Joint Secretary Engineer Bhimarjun Adhikari said climate change has made floods more unpredictable, with large amounts of sediment and debris now flowing with floodwaters, requiring designs suited to specific terrain and river conditions. Meanwhile, officials are working with consultants to revise road and bridge designs, including consideration of higher and longer bridges in flood-prone areas. The government is also considering geotechnical and hydrological studies, disaster-focused maintenance, and better planning of alternative roads to make Nepal’s infrastructure more resilient to future disasters.