Mauritian newspapers highlight relations between India and Mauritius this week
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) – Mauritian papers this week highlight relations between India and Mauritius, as India provided financial assistance worth billions of Rupees for the construction of the first subway line serving the capital, Port-Louis, and the city of Rose-Hill, in the centre, and an ENT hospital.
The two projects, costing 18.8 billion Rupees for the subway and 500 million Rupees for the new hospital, were inaugurated last Thursday by the prime ministers of the two countries, Pravind Jugnauth of Mauritius, and Narendra Modi of India. (36 Rupees = US$1)
"We will always be grateful to India for the help we have received," Le Défi newspaper quoted Jugnauth as saying.
Mr. Jugnauth also referred to the deals as the culmination of "a dream that took 30 years to come true".
According to the Mauritian Prime Minister, "Mauritius needs India's blessing to continue its progress".
"Without India, we would never have been able to propose this project so quickly, just like the new hospital," jugnauth said.
The newspaper also reported that the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, participated in the inauguration of the subway and hospital via videoconference.
"The Indian Ocean is a bridge between Mauritius and India. The ocean economy holds great promise for our peoples," Mr. Modi said.
The daily newspaper, Le Mauricien, reported that the Mauritian PM said that "the subway is not only a modern means of transport", but also will help "improve the quality of life of Mauritians and allow workers to arrive on time at their workplaces and allow them to spend more time with their families".
"At the end of the trial period, all Mauritians will be able to take advantage of this means of transport which will be free throughout the month of November", he added, announcing that the subway will be extended to other parts of the country.
The daily L'express offers a short report on the launch of this project and reported that some Mauritians were present at the inauguration of the subway in Richelieu, a few kilometers away from the capital.
The Challenge talks about the expectations of this flagship government project.
According to the newspaper, which quotes economist Vishal Rughoobur, "this major project will help create jobs; it will provide a boost to the island's economy; it will help to reinvigorate and redraw the landscape of urban areas; It will help reduce traffic congestion and traffic jams; it will have a positive impact on productivity because people will be less tired after the trip; there will be fewer vehicles on the roads and fewer accidents; it will help to significantly reduce environmental pollution, as this new mode of transport is powered by 100pc of electricity".
-0- PANA NA/JSG/BBA/VAO 5Oct2019
