Nepal Plans Parallel Road Along Trishuli River to Improve Resilience of Muglin-Narayanghat Highway

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Nepal Plans Parallel Road Along Trishuli River to Improve Resilience of Muglin-Narayanghat Highway

Nepal Plans Parallel Road Along Trishuli River to Improve Resilience of Muglin-Narayanghat Highway

Ganesh Khatiwada 2026-07-25 07:15:00

Kathmandu, July 25 - The Department of Roads (DoR) has initiated the alignment survey for a proposed parallel road along the Trishuli River as an alternative to the landslide-prone Muglin–Narayanghat highway, one of Nepal's busiest transport corridors. The proposed route aims to enhance year-round connectivity and reduce repeated traffic disruptions during the monsoon season.
According to DoR Director General Dr. Bijay Jaisi, route alignment work is currently underway while local governments and concerned road divisions have already begun opening tracks at various locations along the proposed corridor. He said the department will formally begin construction once track excavation is completed across the entire alignment.
The Muglin–Narayanghat road, stretching approximately 35 kilometres, has long been considered one of Nepal's most vulnerable highway sections due to recurring landslides. Despite a World Bank-supported upgrading project completed in 2018, which widened the roadway from about 5.5 metres to 9-11 metres at a cost exceeding NPR 2 billion, the highway continues to experience frequent disruptions during the monsoon.
Officials from the Chitwan Road Division reported that this year's monsoon has triggered repeated landslides at several critical locations, including Tuinkhola, Jalbire and Setidobhan, repeatedly blocking traffic. Permanent slope stabilisation work worth NPR 220 million has already commenced at Tuinkhola to reduce future risks, while emergency clearance operations generally restore traffic within one to two hours after blockages occur.
Experts attribute the recurring landslides to both natural geological conditions and human activities. The highway passes through one of Nepal's most geologically fragile zones, lying close to the Main Central Thrust (MCT) and Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) fault systems, where the Indian and Tibetan tectonic plates interact. These geological formations have weakened the underlying rocks and soils, making the area highly susceptible to slope failures.
Geotechnical experts also argue that the engineering design during the highway's upgrading did not sufficiently account for the area's complex geological conditions. They note that while extensive geological engineering and slope protection measures were incorporated during the construction of the BP Highway, similar levels of geotechnical intervention were not fully applied along the Muglin-Narayanghat section.
Authorities have further identified unplanned hillside development, indiscriminate road-track excavation, and unmanaged land plotting above the highway as additional factors destabilising slopes and increasing landslide risks during even moderate rainfall.
Experts recommend stricter regulation of construction activities within the highway's watershed and surrounding buffer zones, warning that infrastructure development in unstable terrain should be guided by detailed geological assessments and long-term slope management strategies.
The proposed parallel road is expected to strengthen the resilience of Nepal's principal transport corridor linking Kathmandu with the country's eastern and western regions, while improving disaster preparedness and reducing the economic losses caused by recurring highway closures during the monsoon.
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