Types of Roads in Nepal

I. Administrative Classification

This system categorizes roads based on the level of government responsible for their management, funding, and strategic importance.

1. National Highways (NH)

These are the main arterial routes running east-west and north-south, connecting major cities, economic hubs, and tourist destinations. Designed for high-speed travel and long-distance transport, key examples include:

• Mahendra Highway (East-West Highway)
  

• Tribhuvan Highway
  

• Araniko Highway
  

• Prithvi Highway
  

The Department of Roads (DoR) under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport oversees National Highways. In recent years, many former feeder roads have been upgraded to National Highways.

2. Provincial Highways

Managed by the respective provincial governments, these roads connect economic centers and district headquarters within provinces and link to National Highways.

3. Feeder Roads (FR)

Historically, feeder roads connected district headquarters and economic or tourism hubs to National Highways or other feeder roads. Many have now been upgraded to National Highways or reassigned to provincial management. Remaining feeder roads function as minor highways.

4. District Roads / Panchayat Roads

These roads provide access within districts, linking production areas, markets, and settlements. They primarily support moderate-speed travel and land access. The Department of Local Infrastructure (DoLI) manages these roads.

5. Urban Roads / City Streets

These roads exist within municipal boundaries and provide access to residential, commercial, and industrial areas. They are managed by local governments, and their design follows the Nepal Urban Road Standard (NURS).

6. Rural Roads

These are categorized under the Nepal Rural Road Standard (NRRS) as:

• District Road Core Network (DRCN): Connects Village Development Committee (VDC) centers or economic areas to district headquarters or the Strategic Road Network.
  

• Village Roads: Smaller roads serving local rural communities.
  

7. Agricultural Roads

Primarily built for access to agricultural zones, these roads are developed and maintained by local governments.

II. Technical / Functional Classification (Nepal Road Standard 2070)

This classification is based on traffic volume and road design standards:

• Class I: Expressways with the highest design standards.
  

• Class II: Arterial roads handling significant volumes of traffic.
  

• Class III: Collector roads that gather and distribute traffic between local and arterial roads.
  

• Class IV: Local roads, designed for an Average Daily Traffic (ADT) of less than 2000 Passenger Car Units (PCU) over a 20-year design life.
  

III. Other Classifications

1. Based on Construction Material

Roads can also be categorized by the materials used:

• Earthen roads
  

• Gravel roads
  

• Murrum roads (weathered rock)
  

• Kankar roads (nodular limestone)
  

2. Strategic and Local Road Networks

• Strategic Road Network (SRN): Includes National Highways and previously classified Feeder Roads, managed by the Department of Roads.
  

• Local Road Network (LRN): Comprises district and urban roads, typically under the responsibility of local governments and supported by DoLI.
  

Key Authorities and Responsibilities

• Department of Roads (DoR): Manages the Strategic Road Network.
  

• Provincial Governments: Handle Provincial Highways.
  

• Local Governments (Municipalities and Rural Municipalities): Responsible for rural, urban, and agricultural roads.
  

• Department of Local Infrastructure (DoLI): Provides technical support and coordination for local and provincial road projects.