Madagascar inaugurates the Tananarive cable car: an ecological and urban leap forward
On June 21, 2024, Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina inaugurated the first section of the Antananarivo cable car, marking a crucial milestone in the history of the capital's urban transport system. This ambitious project aims to reduce traffic congestion and offer an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional transport.
Antananarivo's cable car, capable of carrying up to 75,000 passengers a day, is an innovative solution for relieving congestion in a city originally designed for 300,000 inhabitants, but which now boasts over 3 million. President Rajoelina, accompanied by several Malagasy and French officials, flew over the city center on this new means of transport, demonstrating its efficiency and safety.
This cable car represents a significant gain for the environment. " Taking 75,000 passengers off the bus and 2,000 cars off the road in Tana is already a great deal in terms of carbon savings and, above all, travel. "Gérard Andriamanohisoa, Madagascar's Secretary of State for New Towns and Housing , explained. Reducing the number of vehicles on the roads will help cutCO2 emissions, thereby improving air quality in the capital.
Project cost: 152 million euros
Two French companies, Poma and Colas, carried out the 12 km project, with the highest point at over 50 meters. Safety tests were carried out for several weeks before the lift opened to the public. "We're testing the brakes, and we've got lots of sensors in the stations and on the line, to detect any problems early on, so we can stop the lift and make sure there's no risk to passengers," explains Guillaume Rannaz, Technical Manager at Poma.
The project, which cost a whopping 152 million euros to build, was financed mainly by a bank loan guaranteed by the Banque Publique d'Investissement. Part of this financing - 28 million euros - was also covered by a loan from the French Treasury.
Despite its many advantages, the cable car remains inaccessible to a large part of the population due to its cost. A ticket costs 4,000 ariarys (around 80 euro cents), six times the price of a bus ticket. With a minimum wage of around 50 euros a month, many Tananarivians won't be able to afford this means of transport. However, social fares are available for students and pensioners.
Source: www.afrik21.africa/
