Beyond Temporary Road Repairs

The wounds caused by the Bhotekoshi flood on August 26 had yet to heal when several days of continuous rainfall once again disrupted normal life across the country. More than three dozen roads, including major highways, have been blocked. The Prithvi Highway, the main route into Kathmandu, has once again been disrupted, while landslides along various sections of the BP, Araniko, Madan Bhandari, Mid-Hill, Siddhartha and Karnali highways have hampered transportation. With major roads connecting Kathmandu to the rest of the country closed, passengers have been stranded and supplies of food and other essentials disrupted. This has pushed up the cost of living in Kathmandu and elsewhere. People already reeling from the Bhotekoshi disaster have been further burdened by rising prices of essential goods as road disruptions affect supplies. With the major festivals approaching, the situation is particularly concerning. Life is already difficult for those directly affected by floods, landslides and other disasters, while rising prices are placing an additional burden on those who escaped direct losses. This is not merely a temporary problem caused by this year's rainfall. The recurring disruption of roads during every monsoon exposes weaknesses in Nepal's transport infrastructure and disaster preparedness. Natural disasters may not be preventable, but the extent to which they disrupt transportation, supplies and people's daily lives depends largely on the state's preparedness. The challenge is even greater now as Nepal's major festivals approach.

This is the time of year when people living in Kathmandu and other cities return to their villages from different parts of the country to celebrate Dashain. It is also when demand for goods increases and pressure on transportation rises. Prolonged highway closures at such a time are not merely a transportation problem; they affect market supplies, passenger safety and the wider economy. The government's first priority, therefore, should be to reopen roads as quickly and safely as possible. That does not mean forcing vehicles onto roads that remain dangerous. Alternative routes are being used in some districts, while time cards and limits on vehicle loads have been imposed in others. Such measures can help reduce risks, but the public must also receive clear information and practical alternatives. Uncertainty among travelers can be reduced if the government provides integrated information on when particular roads are likely to reopen, which routes are safe, where alternative routes are available and which vehicles are permitted to operate. Such an information system can be made effective through coordination among the Department of Roads, district administrations, security agencies and local governments. A road is not merely a paved surface. It also requires stable slopes, proper drainage, landslide-control measures, river protection, bridges and emergency alternative routes. The damage caused by the Bhotekoshi flood to roads and communities has made this even clearer. Roads and other structures washed away by floods need to be restored, but the risk of similar damage recurring at the same locations must also be assessed. The state must break the cycle of carrying out temporary repairs after disasters only to face the same problems again the following year.

The government should prioritize roads based on risk and necessity, particularly major routes connecting the capital, roads serving large populations and supply networks, and routes connecting hospitals, airports and border areas. Road operations during Dashain should be treated as a special campaign. Essential equipment should be deployed in potentially high-risk areas in advance, alternative routes should undergo technical assessments, passenger assistance mechanisms should be activated, and regular public updates on road conditions should be provided. Nepal needs an infrastructure policy that does not seek to fight nature but instead prepares for risks by understanding them. Risk assessments should be made mandatory from the approval and design stages of road projects through contracting, construction and maintenance. The government should identify high-risk roads and begin preparing necessary structures before the rainy season. The resources spent every year clearing landslides should increasingly be directed toward long-term safety and resilience. The government must ensure safe mobility for citizens. Doing so will not only make travel easier but also help keep daily life and the economy running smoothly. The government should focus on reopening roads quickly and safely. At the same time, whether in the aftermath of the Bhotekoshi disaster or the subsequent floods, it must ensure safe accommodation and livelihood support for people who have been displaced from their homes. Recurring road disruptions should no longer be treated as an unavoidable feature of the monsoon. They are a reminder that Nepal needs to build and maintain infrastructure with disaster risks in mind.