AMBOHIDAVA, Madagascar — A planned 260km toll highway linking the capital Antananarivo to the port city of Toamasina has sparked controversy, as residents of Ambohidava say the project threatens their farms, homes, and ancestral graveyards.
Local Concerns
- Neny Fara, a 70-year-old farmer, fears losing her rice and pineapple fields: “It hurts me, I feel like I’ve been stabbed in the back.”
- Villagers say they have not been consulted and no compensation package has been agreed.
- Community meetings highlight anger that the road may cut through graveyards, a sacred part of Malagasy culture.
Project Details
- Commissioned under former President Andriy Rajoelina, the project continues under Madagascar’s new government.
- Built by Egyptian firm Sancrete, the road will cost about $1 billion, funded partly by the state and international lenders.
- Tolls: $4 for cars, $5 for lorries.
- First 8km stretch already opened in August.
Economic Promise
- Government says the highway will reduce travel time from 16 hours to 3 hours.
- Expected to triple activity at Toamasina port, boost exports (including vanilla), and create jobs.
- Sancrete claims reduced journey times will cut emissions by 30%.
Environmental & Cultural Impact
- Route adjusted to avoid virgin rainforest, though farmland and villages remain at risk.
- Former Environment Minister Max Fontaine said the project balances development with heritage protection, promising compensation and formal land titles.
Wider Context
Madagascar faces the challenge of balancing economic growth with environmental protection and cultural preservation. For Ambohidava’s 500 residents, the red posts marking the road’s path symbolize an uncertain future.