Assystem in India Delivers Complex Design Strategy for Nepal’s Mahendra Highway Upgradation

In a major boost to regional trade, Nepal has launched a comprehensive infrastructure project to upgrade a critical 130-kilometer section of the Mahendra Highway. Funded by the World Bank under FIDIC guidelines, the initiative includes upgrading the Kamala-Dhalkebar-Pathlaiya section from two lanes to a four-lane dual carriageway. The project also includes dedicated service roads in urban zones and the modernisation of 76 bridges and key transit structures to accommodate expanding regional traffic. Assystem in India is proud to support this landmark project as the lead provider of engineering design and structural assessment services.

Our tailored scope of work centred on providing end-to-end engineering solutions across the highway corridor:

• Survey and Geotechnical Validation: Reviewed existing survey data and geotechnical investigations to establish the foundation for the necessary 130 km highway design.
• Bridge Safety and Environmental Design: Designed 76 bridges with advanced road safety features and environmental measures aligned with Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) guidelines.
• Asset Assessment and Rehabilitation: Conducted comprehensive condition assessments and load-carrying capacity evaluations to design structural rehabilitation schemes for existing bridges.
• Signature Landmark Engineering: Delivered specialised structural, seismic, and construction-stage designs for three iconic structures, including one major cable-stayed bridge and two extra-dosed bridges.

By leveraging cutting-edge digital engineering tools and data-driven analysis, our teams turned complex environmental and logistical hurdles into clear asset advantages, delivering quantifiable efficiency across the 130 km corridor:

• Digital Risk Mitigation & Cost Efficiency: Digital analysis and thorough verification of mixed-quality geotechnical data addressed engineering gaps early, preventing costly redesigns during active construction.
• Smart Mapping for Climate Resilience: Integrated hydraulic and hydrological digital mapping established precise discharge parameters, ensuring flood-resilient geometries and scour protection.
• Data-Driven Asset Preservation: In-depth digital degradation mapping and load-capacity modelling enabled an “asset-first” rehabilitation strategy. This approach reduced lifecycle costs significantly and saved substantial capital compared to full replacements.
• Advanced Digital Simulation for Landmark Structures: Our engineering teams delivered the precise blueprinting of three signature cable-stayed and extra-dosed bridges using computational seismic modelling and advanced durability simulation.

This successful delivery underscores Assystem’s long-standing capability to resolve intricate infrastructure difficulties. By relying on six decades of deep-rooted engineering expertise, we continue to provide practical, enduring, and well-balanced infrastructure solutions that reliably meet modern transportation demands without over-promising or over-extending operational scope.