The 3.4 km alignment of Phase 3 of the Metro Express project connecting Rose-Hill to Réduit will be operational in some weeks, announced the Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Alan Ganoo, this morning, following the first Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) Test Run from Rose-Hill Central Station via Ebène Cybercity Station to Mahatma Gandhi Station (Réduit).
He recalled that the third Phase of the Metro Express project linking Rose-Hill, Ebène and Réduit is a route of 3.4 kilometres, comprising two bridges, namely one overlooking La Rivière Sèche and the Warren Truss Bridge. According to Mr Ganoo, this route will be a popular one with commuters being students of the University of Mauritius and employees working in Ebène, among others. “We are expecting some 15 000 to 20 000 commuters daily to be using this route once it becomes operational,” he added.
Speaking of the Warren Truss Bridge, the Minister indicated that it represents another landmark in the realisation of the Metro Express project. “The metal structure of the bridge, made in India, has taken nearly five months to be completed. It is 62 meters long and 10 meters high and weighs around 450 metric tons,” he pointed out.
As regards the Réduit Metro Station, Mr Ganoo highlighted that the station has been named “Mahatma Gandhi Station” as a tribute to the Republic of India and to a distinguished world leader. The station, he informed, will consist of special features that will be made with the participation of Indian artists, architects and other experts, where the history and heritage of the Republic of India will be incorporated into the station itself so as to showcase the struggle that Mahatma Gandhi had undertaken in India.
“I would like to thank the Government of India as well as stakeholders such as Larsen & Toubro who have worked so hard to make this project a reality,” he said. The Minister also announced that a feasibility study is being carried out for the extension of the Metro Express network from Réduit to St Pierre via Côte d’Or.
Mr Ganoo expressed satisfaction with regard to the work progress achieved and added that the Metro Express project is a symbol of the modernisation of Mauritius. The project, he stated, is in line with Government’s vision in promoting a cleaner and greener Mauritius. Some 10 000 plants will be planted along the corridor of this route to promote a sustainable and greener environment.
For his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Metro Express Limited (MEL), Dr Das Mootanah, recalled that the Metro Express project has faced a lot of challenges in terms of land acquisition and upstream work that had to be done simultaneously.
“This test run is a milestone in the Metro Project Phase 3 and a series of testing and trial runs along the route will be conducted to ensure that the light rail is ready to be operational along the alignment before launching it for commercial use in a few weeks,” he added.
