The ongoing Metro Express project is really a very ambitious project. The cost of the project was estimated at some Rs 20 billion and to be completed by 2021. Initially the track will be from Curepipe to Port Louis with 19 stations. In the longer term the idea is that the metro rolls on connecting more and more regions - north and south and the east to west. The project was not spared by critics and continue to be vilified. Many argued that it is too costly and that Mauritius lacks the critical mass to render it profitable etc.
But with a consequential grant from India obtained at some cost to our GBC sector, the present government, however, agreed to kick start the light rail transit or Metro Express project. Despite the efforts and huge investment made by both the public and private companies investing in buses and road building in recent years, the traffic situation barely changed with its lots of congestion cost, road rage, pollution, parking spaces and so on. The actual transport system was too inefficient, shoddy and uncomfortable and it did not meet our present needs and expectations. We could continue with such a situation for long as it has started to have large negative impact on the economy. The status quo or business as usual was no longer an option. There was only one remedy – an alternative mode of transport, accompanied by a series of measures and reforms, was inevitable.
To match a highly effective workforce we need to provide a light transit system whereby more people are able to optimise their trips in the safest and most comfortable way possible to reach their jobs and homes on time. The ambitious light transit rail project besides unlocking congestion and permitting commuters to travel easily, quickly and attractively will bring in its wake a whole new configuration for a modernising country especially a change in the mindset of the workers, consumers and businesses.
That was how the metro Express was sold to Mauritian public. If we disregard the traditional hyperboles from the government's cheerleaders that the metro is the greatest achievement since independence enabling us to realise the dream of a “modern, liveable, vibrant and environmentally-friendly Smart Mauritius”, we may start by worrying whether the Metro Express or Tramway will be meeting its main objective – of relieving us of the daily discomforts and stress of more frequent traffic jams which are increasingly taking their toll on the economy and society.
Why have we persisted in investing so many billions on such a prestige project, despite the repeated alarm bells of an absence of adequate planning and the great many unknowns and inherent risks, if not to aim at a thorough decongestion of the traffic ?
The present traffic mess in many areas is presently the hottest topic of discussion ; traffic jams have indeed worsened . It seems that the metro project, as undertaken currently , is aggravating the already hectic traffic hassles. It is mainly bus commuters that have moved to the metro and without the accompanying unavoidable and hard-hitting measures on private car users to increase the metro’s ridership and shift car users to the metro, we do not think that the metro will succeed in reducing traffic congestion. Otherwise, we may not succeed in preventing it from becoming a white elephant given that the road infrastructure is also being improved !!
The present traffic mess in many areas is presently the hottest topic of discussion ; traffic jams have indeed worsened . It seems that the metro project, as undertaken currently , is aggravating the already hectic traffic hassles. It is mainly bus commuters that have moved to the metro and without the accompanying unavoidable and hard-hitting measures on private car users to increase the metro’s ridership and shift car users to the metro, we do not think that the metro will succeed in reducing traffic congestion. Otherwise, we may not succeed in preventing it from becoming a white elephant given that the road infrastructure is also being improved !!
