Madagascar’s capital has a new means of public transport. The first cable car rode over neighbourhoods of Antananarivo, carrying President Andriy Rajoelina, city officials and project contractors.
Capable of carrying up to 75,000 passengers a day, the cars are designed to reduce congestion in the Malagasy capital, which today has a population of over 3 million.
Gérard Andriamanohisoa, Secretary of State for New Towns and Housing at the Presidency, said this will remove about 75,000 passengers every day at the bus level, remove 2,000 cars at the road level, and save a lot of carbon emissions.
The 152 million Euro loan for construction was provided by France. The cars will take passengers over a distance of 12 kilometres. Throughout June, tests were conducted to assess the safety of the cars.
At nearly one euro a ticket, many Malagasy already feel priced out. The price is also six times the price of a bus ticket.
Some residents of the capital are unhappy, saying power and water cuts should have been looked into before cable cars.
President Rajoelina has fiercely defended the project despite criticism that it increases the country’s indebtedness to France, Madagascar’s former colonial ruler.
The government said a subsidized fare is planned for students and pensioners.
The cars will not be put into circulation for the general public until 2025.