Climate Change and Adaptation Needs for Road Infrastructure in Indian Himalayan Region

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Heavy snowfall in several parts of Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) during current winter throws normal life out of gear with roads and residential utility services getting mostly affected. The challenges of winter commuting for the people living in IHR is even more acute owing to its terrain, lack of adequate winter maintenance infrastructure and early-warning system leading to limited social and economic development. Several of the mountain passes, access roads to high-altitude villages, pilgrimage sites remain closed to car traffic during winters. In this context, climate proofing of the road infrastructure in terms of planning, designing and road asset management with advanced road weather information system has become essential.