VICTORIA, Seychelles — The Mahé West Coast Road project, which started in September 2022, was officially inaugurated on Friday morning in a short ceremony held in Anse à La Mouche, Baie Lazare. The project, which covers a stretch of 19.7 kilometres of improved road infrastructure in south and west Mahé — from Anse Boileau through Baie Lazare to Takamaka and Anse Royale — was funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, at a cost of US$26 million. The project was under the supervision of the department of Land Transport.
President Wavel Ramkalawan, accompanied by the Minister for Transport, Antony Derjacques, principal secretary for Transport, Patrick Andre, and the Chargé d’Affaires of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Seychelles, Ahmed Saeed Alneyadi, had the honour of unveiling the commemorative plaque. The project marks a significant milestone in road infrastructure development aimed at improving traffic circulation and road safety, and was undertaken in four phases, with the works including road widening, resurfacing, the construction of footpaths, drainage, culverts, retaining and boundary walls, new bus shelters and lay-bys, street lighting, road markings and traffic safety signage.
Despite Friday’s inauguration, it should be noted that the project is not fully completed, with some works still going on in different areas along the west and south coast. Delivering his address, President Ramkalawan thanked the people and government of the UAE for their contribution in helping Seychelles improve its road network. He emphasised that although he was not totally content with the works in certain areas, he was on the whole satisfied that this difficult stretch of road, which is sometimes feared by motorists, has been transformed into ‘a highway in the west.’
‘I am very proud of what we have accomplished. I know all the residents of this part of Mahé are very happy and not only the residents, but all Seychellois are happy,’ Mr Ramkalawan said.
