Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina inaugurated a new cable car in Antananarivo to ease traffic in the bustling capital.
Re-elected last year amid controversy, he hailed the gondola as a sustainable transport solution for the city’s swelling population.
Antananarivo, designed for 300,000, now hosts three million residents, causing severe congestion.
Rajoelina anticipates the cable car will alleviate this, emphasizing its environmental benefits to AFP.
The launch coincided with upcoming Independence Day festivities, marking the completion of the first phase of a two-line project.
Full operations may take months, with French firms vying for management roles.
Funded mostly by France, the project cost 152 million euros, a significant sum for the impoverished nation.
Tickets priced at 3,000-5,000 ariary could strain budgets, though Rajoelina claims affordability for the middle class.
Despite criticism, Rajoelina plans personal use and predicts wide adoption among locals, students, and tourists.
The cable car aims to redefine urban mobility in Antananarivo amid economic challenges.
