Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail, Mr Alan Ganoo, attended, this morning, a symbolic ceremony to mark the first anniversary of the Ebène Recreational Park, in the presence of the Chief Executive Officer of Metro Express Limited (Mauritius), Dr Das Mootanah, and other personalities. Several trees were also planted on this occasion.
In a statement, Minister Ganoo highlighted that the park, to the tune of some Rs 100 million, is in line with Government’s vision to preserve the environment and enhance the quality of life of the population, as well as to compensate the inhabitants of the region for the loss of the Roland Armand promenade.
He commended Metro Express Limited (Mauritius) and all stakeholders involved in the creation of the park and indicated that, to date, some 150,000 persons have already visited this park.
He also seized this opportunity to remind that the Metro Express is a clean, safe, ecological, and rapid mode of transport which has already been used by some five million commuters to date.
He also dwelt on works being carried out so as to complete the three phases of the project by December 2022. He added that an embellishment project along the Metro Express track between Port Louis and Rose Hill will soon kick-off. Dr Mootanah, for his part, reminded that the park offers several facilities and comprises many features.
These are, among others: an enclosed children playground area with a mini health track and a toboggan; an outdoor gym with different types of equipment; a health track loop of some 800 metres long; an esplanade and open amphitheatre; an experimental garden with water features; a picnic area; and some 62,000 plants, including 600 exotic trees, 1,500 endemic trees, and over 1,200 palm trees.
He also underlined that a photovoltaic project will soon be implemented so that the park can generate its own energy in the future. Site visit at Victoria Urban Terminal
Following the ceremony at Ebène Recreational Park, Minister Ganoo travelled on board the Metro Express from Rose Hill to Port Louis before effecting a site visit at the Victoria Urban Terminal to take stock of the progress of works.
Minister Ganoo recalled that the pedestrian foot bridge is now open to commuters of the Metro Express so as to ease their access to the capital through the Victoria Urban Terminal. He expressed satisfaction with the progress of works and commended the promoters of the project.
Furthermore, he stressed that 1,000 hawkers will be able to operate at the Victoria Urban Terminal, and through the public-private cooperation and coordination, the project will soon be completed.
This visit, he added, also aims at finalising necessary arrangements in relation to buses and taxis at the terminal. As for Dr Mootanah, he indicated that more than 50% of commuters use the pedestrian foot bridge to go through the Victoria Urban Terminal in order to access the city of Port Louis. He also reminded that several integrated Urban Terminals are being constructed along the Metro Express track.
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