The government has replaced six dilapidated tuins (wire crossings) with suspension bridges since October when a decision to replace the dangerous means of used to get across the rivers.

The first Cabinet meeting of the erstwhile KP Sharma Oli-led government in October last year had announced that all 171 tuins would be replaced with suspension bridges within two years.

Rs 3.25 billion was also allocated for the purpose.

Construction of nine suspension bridges is underway while process to invite the bidding for the building additional 42 suspension bridges is in final stage, said Kedar Bahadur Bhattarai, secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. According to Bhattarai, though the initial number of tuins provided by the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development was 171, it was later found that 146 needed replacement with suspension bridges.

Out of the total 171 tuins identified across the country, 22 were not considered feasible for replacement given the difficult geography and rough terrain. Three were repeated on the list.

The government aims to replace all the tuins with suspension bridges by the end of March 2017.