Like in many developing countries, roads are drivers of development in Nepal. Over 90% of goods and passengers rely on road transportation, making road construction a long-standing priority for the government.
The momentum for road building significantly increased with the advent of democracy in Nepal. During the 9th Five-Year Plan, the total length of the strategic road network was 4,740 km. Currently, Nepal’s total road length is estimated at 74,756 kilometers.
Today, the country is on an ambitious journey to expand its road network. Nepal plans to build 33,000 kilometers more of national and provincial highways by 2043. While this ambitious goal promises enhanced connectivity, it raises critical concerns about sustainability.
At the heart of this transformation lies the “dozer”—a powerful machine that symbolizes rapid development and the environmental cost of that development.
These machines cut through mountains, clear terrain, and destabilize slopes. Roads constructed in Nepal’s mountainous areas using similar methods have led to increased erosion and landslides. Furthermore, the lives and livelihoods of people are increasingly at risk due to human-induced disasters. While roads promise progress, they often come at significant environmental costs.
Environmental Cost
Dozer-driven road construction damages topsoil, primarily due to soil compaction, which significantly reduces agricultural productivity in the long term. Excavation activities disturb surface and underground structures, while ground disturbances pose threats to archaeological and historical remains.
Dozers significantly contribute to air and noise pollution, adversely affecting both humans and wildlife. Dust emissions pose serious health hazards to workers and nearby residents. Additionally, emissions from dozers are major contributors to greenhouse gases, with far-reaching implications for climate change.
Roads constructed with dozers involve cutting, filling, and disposing of construction waste, which increases the turbidity of nearby water bodies. Cutting steep slopes raises the risk of slope instability and landslides. Waste materials stored downslope lead to debris flows.
Roads traversing agricultural land and forest areas have significant environmental impacts. Wildlife crossings are often destroyed due to unregulated dozer use, posing severe risks to species that require substantial movement.
Balancing Roads and Sustainability
Nepal’s fragile geography and adverse geology present significant challenges for road construction. To address these challenges, sustainability must be a central focus. Careful planning across the pre-construction, construction, and post-construction phases is essential. Incorporating environmental protection measures into road design can help mitigate the adverse impacts of road construction activities.
Labor-based road construction technology plays a vital role in achieving sustainable rural road development. This method relies more on manual labor and less on heavy equipment, resulting in fewer environmental impacts. Additionally, it is more cost-effective. This approach effectively addresses environmental, socioeconomic, and sustainability concerns.
In areas susceptible to landslides, techniques such as slope stabilization, bioengineering, enhanced drainage, and riverbank protection are necessary. These techniques minimize the risks associated with unstable terrain and ensure the longevity of the roads.
Additionally, implementing afforestation, particularly along road segments near protected areas, can mitigate risks to wildlife while enhancing ecological balance.
The Global Goal of Sustainability
The global goal of sustainability, SDG 11, aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. The importance of sustainable transport is also recognized by the international community through the Istanbul Programme of Action for the LDCs, the Vienna Programme of Action for the LLDCs, and the SAMOA Pathway for SIDS.
Sustainable transport is mainstreamed across several SDGs and targets, especially those related to food security, health, energy, economic growth, infrastructure, and cities. Nepal targets the availability of safe public transport at 33.4% by 2025 and 50% by 2030.
Roads are vital for Nepal’s prosperity and growth, but they should not come at the expense of the environment. Achieving the 2050 goals will require mechanization, but sustainability must remain a top priority.
