Slope Stability and Resilient Roads in the Himalayas: Nepal’s Challenges and Initiatives

Abstract

Road infrastructure underpins Nepal’s socio-economic connectivity, yet the country’s steep, tectonically active terrain makes roads highly vulnerable to landslides and slope failures. Geological fragility, intense monsoon precipitation, and unplanned excavation exacerbate risks, disrupting transport, trade, and access to services. Recent studies highlight the critical need for resilience-oriented planning. Advances in geospatial hazard mapping, slope stabilization techniques, including bioengineering, mechanical reinforcement, and drainage systems, and policy frameworks have improved risk management along major corridors such as Narayanghat–Mugling and BP Highways. A systems-oriented approach integrating geotechnical science, context-sensitive engineering, climate adaptation, and institutional coordination is essential for sustainable, resilient road networks in the Himalayas.