In the hills to the east of Madagascar, there is a problem
of getting produce to market, due to the lack of roads and navigable
waterways. At the moment the main technologies involve people carrying
goods (head loading, pole-transport).
In hilly areas, in the absence of basic tracks, there are few
intermediate means of transport can be used. Pack animals could be useful,
but horses and donkeys are in very short supply in Madagascar and the wet
climate is unlikely to be conducive to their introduction in the east).
Zebu cattle can be used as pack animals, but this is not a very common
technology.
One way of improving the existing situation could
involved the construction of foot bridges in strategic places to improve
pedestrian access, safety and access times. Another possibility to
consider would be the use of some aerial ropeways for the transport of
goods.
The following information on possible sources of
information and expertise is provided to allow the various people and
organisations to interact and plan possible collaboration and/or exchange
visits.
Among those in Madagascar who might be interested to
collaborate in investigations into such technologies are:
Landscape Development Interventions (LDI/USAID)
BP 1068 Fianarantsoa 301, Madagascar
Tel: (261) 20.75.510.21; Fax: (261) 20.75.507.63
Dr Mark Freudenberger (Directeur) <MSF@chemonics.mg>
Bienvenu Rajaonson
Senior Spécialiste en
Environnement
Banque Mondial, BP 4140 Antananarivo, Madagascar
Tel: + 261 20 22 560 00 ; Fax: + 261 20 22 333 38
Email : brajaonson@worldbank.org
Réseau
MITA
Le réseau malgache de développement des moyens intermédiaires de transport
Rivo Andrianaivoarivony, Coordinateur réseau MITA
Programme Sectoriel des Transports
VPM Ministère des Transports, des Travaux Publics et de l'Aménagement du Territoire
Anosy, BP 295 Antananarivo 101
Tél: + 261-20 231 40 ; Email : mita@mttpat.gov.mg
URL: www.mitamadagacar.org
La cellule de
coordination du transport en milieu rural
Programme Sectoriel
des Transports
Verosoa Raharivelo,
Chef de la cellule
VPM
Ministère des Transports, des Travaux Publics et de
l'Aménagement du Territoire
Anosy, BP 295 Antananarivo 101
Tél: + 261-20 231 40 ; Email : rjb_sepst@wanadoo.mg
CDPR
Ravelomanantsoa Zézé CDPR/ANGAP
Email : cpdr@dts.mg
International
expertise
Among the sources of information and expertise
available outside Madagascar are several organisations in Nepal, linked by
the Nepal National Forum Group (a network of individuals and organisations
concerned with rural transport) linked to IFRTD (see below). Some of the
implementing projects have received financial and technical support from
Switzerland (Helvatas, SKAT).
Trail Bridge Sub Sector Project (TBSSP)
A Swiss-support project in Nepal, with Regional Offices in
Kathmandu, Dharan, Butwal and Dhangadi. It was formerly Bridge Building at
Local Level – BBLL. For further contacts see: http://www.helvetasnepal.org.np/contact.htm.
Trail Bridge Sub Sector Project
(TBSSP)
Mr Jan Roukema Project Coordinator
GPO Box 688, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: + 977 1 521054,
523810; Fax: + 977 1 526829
Email: tbssp@helvetas.org.np;
URL: http://www.helvetasnepal.org.np/tbssp.htm
ITDG
Nepal
Experience on ropeways and river crossings and presently
preparing updated manuals for implementation.
ITDG Nepal, PO Box 15135, Kupandol, Lalitpur, Kathmandu,
Nepal
Tel:
+ 977 1 545698; Fax: + 977 1 522565
E-mail: itdg@wlink.com.np
Mahendra Bijukuchchay <mahendrab@itdg.wlink.com.np>
Website: http://www.itdg.org/html/technical_enquiries/docs/aerial_ropeway.pdf
Information may
also be available from the ITDG Transport Programme
www.itdg.org
ITDG International Transport Programme
(Ranjith de Silva, Senior Transport Specialist)
c/o ITDG South Asia, 5 Lionel Edirisinghe Mawatha
Kirulapone, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka.
Phone: +94 1 829412-15; Fax: +94 1 856188
Email: ranjiths@itdg.slt.lk;
ITDG Website:
Nepal National Forum
Group
The Nepal National Forum group is a network of individuals and
organisations concerned with rural transport, and some of the members have
already been listed above. Among the other contacts are:
Bidhan C. Rajbhandari <bidhan.rajbhandari@gtz.org.np>
<ram.risal@helvetasnepal.org.np>
Neeraj Shah, Divisional Head, Suspension Bridge
Division
DoLIDAR, Ministry of Local Development, HMG/N
Pulchowk, Lalaitpur, Nepal
Tel: + 977 1 524681 / 528570 ; Fax: + 997 1 527 944
Email: nishant@enet.com.np
A small company implementing wire bridges and
ropeways (see their picture).
Eco Systems Pvt Ltd
(Mr David Sowerwine, Managing Director)
PO Box 385, Lalitpur, NEPAL
Tel: + 977 1 521228; Fax: + 977 1 521228
Email: sowerwine@wlink.com.np
URL: http://www.ecosystemsnepal.com/index.html
SKAT Foundation
Vadianstrasse 42, CH-9000 St.Gallen, Switzerland
Tel: + 41 71 228 54 54; Fax: + 41 71 228 54 55
Email: urs.egger@skat.ch
URL: www.skat.ch; www.skat-foundation.org
Some publications produced by SKAT/HELVETAS in the
1980s and 1990s included:
Survey, Design and Construction of Trail Suspension Bridges for Remote
Areas
Design ISBN 3-908001-36-6, 375pp, 1992; £14.50/SFr25.00
Survey ISBN 3-908001-63-3, 325pp, 1983; £12.50/SFr20.00
Execution of Construction Works ISBN 3-908001-64-1, 287pp, 1983 £12.50/SFr20.00
Costing and Contracting ISBN 3-908001-65-X, 289pp, 1983; £12.50/SFr20
Switzerland
In the mountains of Switzerland, many farmers regularly use small
cable cars to transport produce and goods between barns, farmhouses and
local roads. For more information, contact SKAT Foundation (see
above).
ILO Assist has done some work with
footbridges in Zimbabwe.
ILO ASIST (Attn: Camilla Lema)
PO Box 210, Block 8, Arundel Office Park
Norfolk Road, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: +263-4-369 824-8 ; + 263 4 369810 / 369811 / 369812
Fax: +263-4-369 829; +263 4 369813 / 369814
Email: asist@ilosamat.org.zw
Bulletin highlighting some work on bridges:
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/recon/eiip/asist/bulletin/bul-12/bul12.pdf
International Forum for Rural Transport and
Development (IFRTD)
(Priyanthi Fernando, Executive Secretary)
113-114 Spitfire Studios, 63-71 Collier Street, London N1 9BE. United
Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 7713 6699; Fax: +44 20 7713 8290
Email: ifrtd@ifrtd.org; URL: www.ifrtd.org
For general information and further contacts relating
to bridges and rural transport issues. Ranjith de Silva is the
Coordinator for the Asian region and he has
recently visited Nepal and other countries and is interested in developing
these technologies.
Email: ranjith@ifrtd.org
Forum News on Bridges (Vol 7:4, May 2000) (French and English versions
available):
http://www.ifrtd.gn.apc.org/fr-news/nlfren74.pdf
http://www.ifrtd.gn.apc.org/news/news.htm
MITA
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