We talked about the Property Development Scheme (PDS) or about the Smart City project. Here is another ambitious project from the Mauritian government: the light rail transit system. Mauritius has entrusted the construction of the tracks and infrastructure to the Indian company Larsen & Toubro. The project has cost the state about Rs 18,8 billion. The first train of the light rail transit system, named Mauricio, has made a first symbolic trip on the 3rd of October last, from the maintenance depot of Richelieu to Rose Hill.
Some practical pieces of information
The 26-kilometer track is meant to connect Port Louis to Curepipe by going through some of the busiest towns of Mauritius, such as Beau Bassin, Rose Hill, Quatre Bornes and Phoenix. 19 stations are being erected to serve this purpose. The Curepipe-Port Louis ride should take about 40 minutes and will cost Rs 37 to passengers, the current price of a bus ticket to the same destination. The tram will travel at 25/30 kilometers per hour in regions that are the busiest and 80 kilometers per hour in those which are less busy.
The project boasts modernity, with an electronic ticketing system as well as a mobile application with the aim of informing travelers of the timings of the tram. Stations should also be equipped with touchscreens that will display the exact location of the tram in real time.
The metro trip will be free for people who are more than 60 years old, invalids, school, high school and university students, as is the case for bus trips currently. Four types of metro cards are being devised for this purpose.
The works for the complete track (including the town of Curepipe) should be over in 2021.
The advantages
The Metro Express has been presented as a project that is profitable to the individual, the economy, the society and the environment of the island. It will give rise to the creation of jobs, the project team says. Conductors have been given comprehensive and advanced training, controlled by the Singapore Mass Transit Corporation (SMRT). In fact, a Mauritian conductor was operating the metro during the first ride of the 3rd of October last.
Not having to leave the house too early, travelling quickly, not getting stuck in huge traffic jams, these are some of the wishes Mauritians have since some years now. With the growing number of vehicles circulating in Mauritius, the government has decided to put into action a sustainable solution to help reduce traffic jams.
In addition to this, this promising project aims at diminishing the risks of serious accidents, by 15% the government says. Besides, the Union Internationale des Transports Publics (UITP) claim, with the support of statistics, that a trip in a light rail transit tram is six times safer than to travel in a car. Moreover, the states of roads are getting worse as time goes by. Many complain about the bumpy rides in buses. Travelling by the metro would consequently be comparatively more comfortable.
It is claimed that this project is also good to the environment. In fact, since it uses electricity, the tram does not release CO2. Furthermore, its silent movement will help reduce noise pollution.
Combining speed, security, comfort and eco-friendliness, are some of the ambitions of this project.