Methodologies for functional recovery assessment of hilly roads situated in the Indian Himalayan region

Road networks are a critical component of the built environment and play a vital role in enhancing overall community resilience. Ensuring the safety and functionality of these networks is essential, especially in hilly regions such as the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), which are highly vulnerable to multiple hazards such as earthquakes and earthquake-induced landslides. Past events in this region have demonstrated that the disruptions in road connectivity during such events lead to significant socio-economic losses by restricting access to essential services, impeding trade, and affecting tourism-based livelihoods. Therefore, this study proposes methodologies to identify critical road segments and systematically estimate the expected functional recovery of hilly roads in the IHR. The approach integrates a rapid visual screening-based technique to preliminarily assess potentially vulnerable buildings, hill cuts, and slopes that may obstruct roads. In addition, it provides a framework for incorporating detailed probabilistic methods to enable a more refined estimation of road functionality recovery. The applicability of the proposed methodologies is illustrated through a detailed case study. The insights gained from this work can support the development of effective mitigation strategies and guide resource allocation to restore the functionality of roads affected by earthquakes and earthquake-induced landslides. • A methodology to identify critical road segments in hilly regions is proposed. • Debris clearance rates derived from practicing professionals’ inputs are reported. • Post-hazard resource allocation for prompt road functional recovery is exemplified.