Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, has introduced a new mode of public transportation with the inauguration of cable cars.
President Andriy Rajoelina, along with municipal authorities and project builders, embarked on the inaugural journey across districts of the city.
The cable cars have the capacity to transport up to 75,000 passengers daily, aiming to ease traffic congestion in a city with over 3 million residents.
Gérard Andriamanohisoa, Secretary of State for New Towns and Housing at the Presidency, highlighted the environmental benefits, stating, “Removing 75,000 daily passengers and 2,000 cars from Tana’s roads will significantly reduce carbon emissions and improve mobility.”
Funded by France through a €152 million loan, the cable cars will cover a distance of 12 kilometers. Safety tests were conducted in June to ensure passenger safety.
Guillaume Rannaz, a technical manager at Poma, the project contractor, emphasized the safety measures in place, including sensors and backup generators to mitigate risks.
However, the cost of nearly one Euro per ticket has sparked concerns about affordability among many Malagasy citizens, especially since it is six times higher than a bus ticket.
Some residents argue that addressing basic needs like water and electricity should have been prioritized over the cable car project.
President Rajoelina defended the project despite criticism about increasing Madagascar’s debt to France, likening it to transformative projects like the Eiffel Tower, which initially faced opposition but later became iconic.
The government plans to introduce subsidized fares for students and pensioners.
Full operation of the cable cars is expected by 2025.
