The President of the Malagasy Republic, all smiles, inaugurated the first section of the cable car in Antananarivo. This new means of transport, capable of transporting up to 75,000 passengers per day, aims to reduce traffic jams in the Malagasy capital, which today has more than 3 million inhabitants.
Gérard Andriamanohiso is the Secretary of State for new cities and housing at the presidency and he sees this as a significant gain for the environment and populations.
“Remove 75,000 passengers every day from the bus, remove 2000 cars from the Tana road, that’s already a lot in terms of carbon savings and especially travel.”
Two French companies carried out this 12 km project, with a highest point of more than 50 meters. Before welcoming the first passengers, mainly officials and journalists, safety tests were carried out for several weeks, in particular by filling the cabins with around forty cans of 20 liters of water each, as explained by Guillaume Rannaz, manager. Cable car technique, Poma company.
“We do tests on the brakes, we have a lot of sensors in the stations and on the line, to detect a possible problem upstream, and to be able to stop the device and therefore ensure that there is no risk for passengers. We also have generators to allow us to continue running the device in the event of a power outage.”
The ticket will cost 4000 ariary, or around 80 euro cents, which is 6 times the price of a bus ticket. The cable car will therefore be inaccessible for the majority of the population, whose minimum wage is around 50 euros per month.
“I have 6 children, at 4000 ariary (80 euro cents) a ticket, we can't afford it! But if they offer free tickets, we will run to get them, it will be a bit like taking a plane!”
“We don't have water, we don't have electricity, and when we do have water, it's mud that comes out of the tap, even though we're still paying the bills! Why not solve these social problems first! No, for me the cable car is not a priority at all.”
Despite the criticism, the President of the Republic Andry Rajoelina fiercely defends this project of more than 150 million euros, financed by a loan from the French Public Treasury and another guaranteed by BPI France, the public investment bank.
“We must dare to transform and develop our country. It's always the people who criticized who couldn't do anything. Should we do this project or not, I say yes. You know, do your research, there has been a lot of criticism of the construction of the Eiffel Tower. But now what attracts tourists to France? Isn’t that the Eiffel Tower?”
The cable car which will be used mainly by the middle class and tourists but social pricing is planned for students and retirees, but we will have to wait a little longer to be able to board because the cable car will be put into circulation for the population is planned for 2025 .
Brilliant!
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