How Nepal Became The Developing World's Bridge Builder By Exporting Low-Cost Engineering Expertise

Nepal has emerged as an unlikely global leader in rural infrastructure by transforming decades of experience in trail bridge construction into an internationally recognised development model. Through TRAC4Change, Nepali engineers have transferred their expertise to 11 countries, including Ethiopia, Tanzania, Bhutan, Indonesia, Guatemala and Afghanistan, helping governments establish self-sustaining bridge programmes instead of relying on foreign contractors. The programme evolved from a Swiss-Nepal partnership launched in the 1960s to address rural isolation. By combining indigenous bridge-building techniques with modern engineering, Nepal developed low-cost, modular suspension bridges that require minimal machinery and can be adapted to local conditions. More than 11,000 trail bridges now serve over one million daily crossings across Nepal, improving school attendance, healthcare access and trade. Countries such as Ethiopia have already built hundreds of bridges and are now independently designing new projects using Nepal's system. The initiative highlights Nepal's transformation from an aid recipient into a respected exporter of engineering knowledge across the developing world. Key Highlights: Nepal supports bridge programmes in 11 countries TRAC4Change focuses on knowledge transfer Over 11,000 bridges built in Nepal One million daily crossings nationwide Ethiopia built 272 bridges with Nepali support Low-cost modular engineering model exported School and healthcare access improved significantly Nepal shifts from aid recipient to expertise provider #Nepal #Infrastructure #Engineering #Development #TrailBridges #TRAC4Change #Innovation #GlobalDevelopment #SouthAsia #BreakingNews India Today Global is the international arm of India's most trusted media organization — delivering factual, up-to-date news, analysis, and insights from India and around the world. From politics and business to culture and global affairs, we cover it all. Built for the digital-first English news audience and the Indian diaspora worldwide, we are the channel that connects India to the world and the world to India. 🎙️ Statecraft - Executive Editor Geeta Mohan cuts the noise, decodes the truth, and dissects the forces shaping global power, from geopolitical shifts to military strategies and economic levers. 🌐 Namaste World - Your daily wrap of the biggest stories from around the globe. Concise, sharp, essential. 🔍 Point of View - We hold people accountable. The questions others won't ask, asked here. 🗺️ Zoom In - Wars, conflicts, and tensions simplified with maps and context that actually make sense. 🤝 Diplomatic Diaries - Ambassadors have a public face. We show you the other one. No stone unturned. No question unasked. 🔔 Subscribe - because the world doesn't wait, and neither should you. Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/ITGGlobal Follow us on Instagram:   / indiatodayglobal   Follow us on Facebook:   / indiatodayglobal   Follow us on Website: https://www.indiatoday.in/global Watch our marquee shows: EXCLUSIVE: President Putin Says "We Will Take Donbas by Force" in His Most Shocking Interview    • EXCLUSIVE: President Putin Says "We Will T...   Trump Demanded Seven Countries Send Warships to Hormuz. Every Single One Refused | Statecraft Ep 307    • Trump Went to War With Iran, Begged for a ...   Afghanistan Claims Pakistan Bombed Kabul Hospital Killing 400, 250 injured | Namaste World EP 81    • Afghanistan Claims Pakistan Bombed Kabul H...   From B-52 to B-21 Raider: The Evolution of America’s War Machine | Zoom In With Sandeep Unnithan    • From B-52 to B-21 Raider: The Evolution of...   US Iran War: Military Bases in the Gulf, For Israel or the Arab World? | West Asia War | POV Ep 5    • US Iran War: Military Bases in the Gulf, F...   Inside Australian Envoy’s Delhi Residence | Diplomatic Diaries Exclusive    • Inside Australian Envoy’s Delhi Residence ...