Video: improved tuins

Improved tuins

A simple and cheaper means of river crossing system in Nepal

Due to the topography of Nepal, sometimes construction of bridges is not a possible but an alternative means of transportation like the river crossing Tuin technology can provide a sustainable solution to the excluded and isolated people of rural and mountainous regions.

Passengers, women and children, arriving on the improved tuin at Hiklung Ghat, Gorkha There are more than 6,000 rivers and streams in Nepal leaving many places without any means of crossing and countless people losing their lives or injuring themselves. Due to the lack of proper or alternative means of transportation people either have to swim or use grass rope with wooden pulley or simple boats to cross the rivers. Wire bridges (Tuin) are an indigenous technology and one of the most common structures for river crossing in rural Nepal. It usually has single wire rope, pulley and a simple wooden trolley. To cross rivers using such Tuins is dangerous and sometimes life threatening.

The new design of Tuin

Practical Action in Nepal conducted a study to improve the existing Tuin technology. Ideas for improving the design came mainly from the local communities during discussions with Practical Action's technical experts. The community expressed deep concerns on safety of the traditional Tuins. Several people have lost their fingers while operating such traditional Tuins and there is always a danger of falling off the trolley while crossing. Technical personnel suggested low-cost improvements that addressed the users concerns.

Some changes to make the Tuin safer were to develop and add seats, and install sidebars. Practical Action further developed a new pulley system that makes the pulling of the trolley easier and eliminates the risk of trapping fingers in the mechanism. The pulley and bearing system also reduces friction and lessens the effort required to cross the river. The efficiency has been doubled.

The improved Tuin was developed and tested in Mahestar village about 60 km west of Kathmandu. Based on the experiences at Mahestar, the design was further developed into a double-cable design. Although it costs more, it provides improved balance and can carry heavy loads at the same time. Double-cable prototypes were then built in four villages. Based on the experience gained, our technicians then improved the design by adding sag control cables and hauling cables to the pulley system - making easier to pull the Tuin from both sides of the river bank. These improved tuins were then installed in five villages the following year.

There are many isolated villages in rural Nepal where other conventional type of suspension or motor bridge construction is only a dream for the local communities. Even though there are villages that have national highway on the other side of the river bank local people have to walk endless hours to get to the nearest bridge to cross the river.

To provide access to such isolated and excluded villages, a 100 meter long Tuin can be constructed with a total cost of NRs 750,000 (about US $11,000). Among that total cost, external support equivalent to NRs. 600,000 is required for wire ropes, steel parts, cement, rods and skilled labor where as an amount equivalent to NRs. 150,000 for local materials and labor is being contributed from concerned beneficiaries.

Video blog: river crossings in Nepal

Stephen Harvey: "I'd read about tuins before I went to Nepal - they sounded like a brilliant idea, so I jumped at the chance of having a go on one. In the dramatic surroundings I immediately saw the benefits they can bring, helping communities cross potential dangerous mountain rivers. I wasn't prepared for the blisters though … unlike the tuin, my "office worker" hands weren't quite up to the job!"