Ensure Cable Car Safety

The benefits of cable car as a means of transportation is manifold. It takes up less space than other transportation methods, like buses and trains, because they hover above the streets. This is especially useful in cities with limited space and heavy traffic. The fact that it is usually powered by electricity and so can be connected to renewable energy sources makes it environmentally friendly. They produce no exhaust emissions and significantly reduce noise emissions, making it also climate friendly. Unlike other transportation methods, cable cars can travel over difficult terrain like hills and rivers.  What's more, investment in cable car business is lucrative owing to its relatively low operation cost and short payback period. This fact may explain why Nepal is seeing aggressive expansion of cable car operation to almost every hill and ridge of the country, with the total operators reaching ten and seven more under construction. 

This rapid expansion has necessitated a strong supervisory body under the government which is also equipped with skilled manpower. In several European countries, there are dedicated ministries or departments responsible for granting permissions and regulating cable car operations. Such regulatory bodies have the authority to immediately halt operations during service, instructing companies to conduct emergency rescues and demonstrate compliance with safety standards. In Europe, companies are required to rescue and ensure the safety of passengers inside gondolas within an hour; and failing to do so results in fines or demand for clarification. When it comes to ensuring safety of our cable car passengers, taking a leaf out of these countries with unblemished safety records can be a prudent decision.

According to cable car engineers and experts, while explosive growth of cable car service is commendable, it appears that operators occasionally neglect their responsibilities and accountability owing to technical issues that arise intermittently.  A robust government monitoring body is urgently needed to establish standards and procedures for the operation and safety of cable cars in the country. As things stand, there is no mechanism to regulate the quality, type, and source of materials and tools required for the operation and safety of cable cars. Nor is there a designated security body that can act as first responders to rescue the passengers stuck midair. 

On December 30, passengers faced significant inconvenience when a technical issue arose with the Chandragiri cable car. This is not the first time such an issue has occurred with the cable car service. In 2024 alone, technical issues have been reported four times. Although the company stated that the problems were far from major, passengers forced to spend hours inside a gondola lift service can face major mental stress, making for a distressing experience. Such untoward incident can very much be a source of trigger for those with fragile mental health or with anyone with underlying health conditions, resulting in panic and extreme cases on life.

To make a cable car safe, periodic inspections of all components like cables, pulleys, towers, and cabins is an absolutely necessity, as is implementation of robust safety systems including backup power, secondary cables, and emergency braking mechanisms. It is also essential to enforce strict weight limits, monitor weather conditions closely to suspend service during adverse weather, and provide thorough training for maintenance personnel and operators.