Governments change, promises are repeated, but the daily lives of citizens in Nepal’s remote regions remain just as dangerous. Although the commitment to replace cable crossings (tuin) has been reiterated for years, people living along the Mahakali and Karnali rivers are still forced to risk their lives to cross them.

Last year, Narayan Budhathoki, 28, of Byas Rural Municipality–2 went missing in the Mahakali River after falling from a tuin in Dumling, Darchula. This is only one representative incident. Every year, people lose their lives after falling from these makeshift cable crossings, despite repeated government commitments to eliminate them nationwide. While presenting the government’s policies and programmes for the fiscal year 2082/8, President Ramchandra Paudel once again announced that all tuins across the country would be replaced.

Ironically, the government does not even have an accurate record of how many tuins exist. The federal government claims that out of 143 officially recognised tuins, only two remain: one over the Mahakali river and another over the Karnali river. However, these are only the crossings built under federal supervision. In many other places, local communities have constructed their own cable crossings because no bridges exist. The federal government neither maintains data on these locally built tuins nor has a comprehensive plan to identify and replace them.

In Nepal’s remote regions, development often seems like something people must endlessly wait for. Projects announced decades ago remain confined to paper, while citizens continue paying the price by risking their lives. For decades, the cable crossings have served as the primary means of crossing rivers in the country’s mountainous regions. They are not merely a mode of transportation but a symbol of hardship, necessity and constant danger.

A decade ago, then-Prime Minister KP Oli announced that Nepal would become ‘tuin-free’ within two years. The declaration raised hopes among citizens. Despite Oli serving as Prime Minister four times since then, the promise remains largely unfulfilled. His announcement ultimately became another political slogan rather than a completed commitment.

A decade later, people in Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces still depend on tuins to cross the Mahakali, Karnali and numerous other rivers. In districts such as Darchula, Bajhang, Bajura, Doti, Humla and Mugu, daily life would come to a standstill without these cable crossings. Instead of permanent bridges, residents continue relying on tuins, suspension walkways and temporary footbridges.

On one side stands the government’s vision of a ‘Prosperous Nepal’; on the other, citizens risking their lives every day simply to travel. This contradiction reflects the state’s priorities and its level of commitment to protecting its people.

Five years ago, Jaya Singh Dhami, 30, of Byas Rural Municipality in Darchula disappeared into the Mahakali River while crossing on a tuin. India’s Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) was accused of cutting the cable while he was crossing, yet neither India accepted responsibility nor was Nepal able to secure justice. Singh’s dreams vanished with the river’s current. Such incidents may briefly make headlines, but the suffering continues for affected communities every day.

Even today, around 60 locations across Sudurpashchim and Karnali provinces still rely on tuins, including nine sites in Darchula alone. Every crossing is filled with uncertainty, as people constantly fear that the cable could snap at any moment. The danger is even greater for children, women, elderly people, pregnant women and medical patients. In some cases, they must be carried or pulled across while suspended over rushing rivers, exposing them to unimaginable risks.

The government has made some efforts in recent years. Several suspension bridges have been built, and several tuins have been replaced. However, these efforts remain insufficient and unevenly distributed. Construction projects in remote regions frequently suffer from delays, inadequate budgets, and the logistical challenges of transporting materials.

For example, although construction of the 65-kilometre link road connecting Mugu and Humla began years ago, a Bailey bridge over the Chuwa Khola section of the Karnali River has yet to be completed. As a result, motorcycles and goods are still transported across the river by tuin, often at high cost. Poverty, remoteness and government neglect combine to force people to place their lives in their own hands every time they cross.

Meanwhile, the federal government remains preoccupied with announcing ambitious projects such as cable cars, smart cities, and other large-scale infrastructure. Policies increasingly favour business and commercial interests, while the safety and mobility of people living in remote communities receive far less attention. As discussions continue about metro rail systems and smart technologies in major cities, children in districts like Bajhang are still forced to cross dangerous rivers on tuins just to attend school.

Public declarations alone cannot guarantee citizens’ safety. Without clear deadlines, secured budgets, transparency, and accountability, implementation inevitably slows. At present, the government lacks both a clear action plan and a publicly available progress report showing how many tuins have actually been replaced and how many remain.

If this issue were genuinely treated as a national priority, all remaining tuins could be replaced with safe bridges within a few years. Achieving that goal would require stronger implementation mechanisms, better coordination among relevant ministries, technical agencies, and local governments, as well as effective monitoring and accountability. Timely budget allocation and careful oversight of expenditures are equally essential.

The government should also consider alternative engineering solutions. In locations where suspension bridges are technically difficult to construct, technologies such as cable cars or podway systems could provide safer and more sustainable options.

Ultimately, this is not merely a question of replacing cable crossings. It is about protecting human life, preserving dignity, and restoring public trust in the state. With clear policies, technical expertise, and proper budget management, the government has the capacity to solve this problem. Without genuine political will, however, more people like Narayan Budhathoki and Jay Singh Dhami will continue to disappear into the Mahakali, and countless children will continue crossing rivers each day under the constant threat of tragedy.