Nepal's road infrastructure has experienced remarkable growth over the past decades, evolving from a mere 376 km in the 1950s to a complex network spanning thousands of kilometers today. Understanding the different types of roads in this Himalayan nation is essential for anyone interested in Nepal's development journey. Let's dive into the comprehensive road classification system that connects communities from the flat Terai plains to the world's highest mountains.
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Current State of Nepal's Road Network
OpenStreetMap contains roughly 283.3 thousand km of roads in this region. Based on AI-mapped estimates, this is approximately 84 % of the total road length in the dataset region. This massive network reflects decades of infrastructure development and continues to expand as Nepal progresses toward better connectivity.
Administrative Classification: The Four-Tier System
Nepal's roads are administratively classified into four main categories, each serving distinct purposes and managed by different government authorities:
National Highways
According to the Statistics of National Highway SNH-2020/21 there are 80 National Highways in Nepal, with a total length of 11178.92 km. The new report of the Road Department of Nepal "Statistics of National Highway SNH-2022/23" shows that a total of 621 km (385.87 mi) of new roads have been built in Nepal in a span of 1 year, thus the total length of National Highway in Nepal in the year 2023 has become 11,799.09 km (7,331.61 mi)
Any highway or road that connects east to west and north to south is considered a National Highway of Nepal. These major arterial roads form the backbone of Nepal's transportation system.
Currently Mahendra Highway is the longest National Highway of Nepal which is 1,028 km (638.77 mi) long in total length. The highway runs eastmost point Kakarbhitta to western most point Gadda Chauki through the Terai region.
A noteworthy achievement is the elevation range of Nepal's highways. Probably NH48 (Kaligandaki Corridor) is the highest altitude motorable highway in Nepal. The highway runs on the elevation from 1,000 m (3,280.84 ft) to 4,600 m (15,091.86 ft). It connects Tansen and other parts of the country with Korala (Nepal-China border).
Feeder Roads
Feeder roads serve as crucial connectors between district headquarters, major economic centers, and tourism destinations to the national highway network. These roads are of a more localized nature than National Highways and are further classified into Feeder Roads (Major) and Feeder Roads (Minor).
District Roads
District roads serve areas within individual districts, connecting production areas and markets with each other and with the main highways. They form an essential part of the local transportation network, linking Village Development Committee (VDC) headquarters or nearest economic centers to district headquarters.
Urban Roads
Urban Roads are the roads serving within the urban municipalities. Urban roads have their own detailed classification:
- Arterial Roads : Roads generally meant for through traffic on continuous routes
- Sub-arterial Roads : Roads with somewhat lower levels of travel mobility than arterial roads
- Collector Roads : Roads intended for collecting and distributing traffic to and from local roads
The Two Major Network Categories
Strategic Road Network (SRN)
In Nepal the overall management of National Highways and Feeder Roads comes within the responsibility of the Department of Roads (DOR). These roads are collectively called Strategic Roads Network (SRN) roads.
Local Road Network (LRN)
District Roads and Urban Roads are managed by Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads (DOLIDAR). These roads are collectively called Local Roads Network (LRN) roads.
According to the Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads (DoLIDAR), Nepal has 6,683 rural roads, the combined length of which is 50,943 km. Of these, 1,575 km are blacktop, 14,601 km are gravel and 34,766 km are earthen fair-weather roads.
Technical Classification Based on Traffic Volume
Nepal also employs a technical classification system based on traffic volume and design standards:
Class I Roads
Have a divided carriageway and access control (Expressways) with Average Daily Traffic (ADT) of 20,000 Passenger Car Unit (PCU) or more in 20 yrs. perspective period. Design speed in plain terrain is 120 km/h.
Class II Roads
Have ADT of 5,000-20,000 PCU in 20 yrs. These are typically arterial roads with design speeds of 100 km/hr.
Class III Roads
Roads with ADT of 2000-5000 PCU in 20 years perspective period, with design speeds of 80 km/hr.
Class IV Roads
Roads with ADT less than 2000, featuring design speeds of 60 km/hr.
Federal Structure and Road Jurisdiction
Following the promulgation of the federal constitution in 2015, road construction and management responsibilities have been divided among different levels of government:
- Federal Government : Manages National Highways (Schedule 5 of the Constitution)
- Provincial Government : Oversees Provincial Highways (Schedule 6)
- Local Government : Handles local, rural, and agricultural roads (Schedule 8)
Major Highway Projects Under Development
Pushpalal (Mid-Hill) Highway
Pushpalal Highway's (H18) proposed length 1776 km would be the longest highway of Nepal once completed. 850 km of the 1776 km has been blacktopped. So far, 1259 kilometers have been tarred. Currently, 415 kilometers of road and 25 bridges are under construction.
East-West Postal Highway (Hulaki Marga)
The East-West Postal Highway, popularly known as Hulaki Marga, connects 20 districts in the southern Terai belt (from Bhadrapur, Jhapa in the east to Dodhara, Kanchanpur in the west). The highway extends 975 km from east to west. The project also includes another 817 km of roads that will connect all Terai districts.
Meanwhile, construction of 910 km road and 115 bridges has been completed. Moreover, Construction of 250 km road in between Dang, Bardiya and Nepalgunj is in tender process and about 500 km of road is under construction.
Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track
The overall 72.5 km length stretches from Khokana (Lalitpur) to Nijgadh (Bara) interconnecting Kathmandu and Makwanpur district in between. The project has started and completed 30.96% of its physical progress as of 15 February 2024 and will be completed in 2027.
Current Challenges and Statistics
Road Conditions
Only 19% of roads in Nepal are all weather roads. This statistic highlights the significant infrastructure challenges the country faces, particularly in rural and mountainous regions.
Road Density
The country has a road density of about 34.41 per 100 sq km, whereas effective population kilometres per 1,000 is 1.91.
Safety Concerns
On average, 14 deaths occur due to road traffic injuries per 100K people in Nepal. A total of 2,320 people lost their lives in road traffic accidents between April 2022 and April 2023, while 28,526 people were injured, many of them impaired for life (Source: Nepal Times).
Rural Road Standards
Nepal Road Standards 1971 (Second Revision in 2014) is applicable to all strategic roads in rural areas being constructed within Nepal. For non-strategic (local roads) and urban roads, separate standards are applicable.
The Nepal Rural Road Standard (NRRS) 2055, with its second revision in 2071, provides detailed guidelines for rural road construction, emphasizing geometric features, environmental safeguarding measures, and engineering practices suitable for Nepal's challenging terrain.
Economic Significance
The national road network in Nepal (excluding all local roads) is worth about NPR 90 billion (USD 900 million), which represents almost 20% of the country's GNP. These roads comprise a substantial investment, underscoring the need to maintain these roads.
Conclusion
Nepal's road classification system reflects the country's complex geography, administrative structure, and development needs. From the strategic national highways connecting major cities to the rural roads serving remote communities, each type of road plays a vital role in the nation's progress. While significant achievements have been made – expanding from 376 km in the 1950s to hundreds of thousands of kilometers today – challenges remain.
The low percentage of all-weather roads, maintenance backlogs, and safety concerns highlight areas requiring continued attention. As Nepal moves forward with its federal structure, coordination between different levels of government in road development and maintenance will be crucial for ensuring that all communities have access to reliable transportation infrastructure. The ongoing major projects like the Pushpalal Highway and East-West Postal Highway represent important steps toward achieving comprehensive connectivity across this diverse and beautiful nation.
