In Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, an ambitious transportation project may be a costly failure. City leaders built a cable car system to carry commuters above the heavy traffic, but it operated for only a few weeks. Now the empty cables hang above the city, and the project cost around $173 million in one of the world's poorest countries.

The system was promoted by former President Andry Rajoelina, who was removed from power in late 2025. He believed cable cars were the best way to reduce dependence on old, crowded minibus taxis. These vehicles cause traffic jams that last for hours. When the service opened in 2025, officials said it could carry up to 75,000 passengers a day and shorten some journeys from up to three hours to under 30 minutes.

Despite these promises, very few residents used it, mainly because of cost. A single trip was priced at 70 to 90 U.S. cents, six to eight times more than a minibus ride. In a country where a commuter earns roughly $72 a month, many people found it too expensive. Pieter Onderwater, a transportation expert, explained that money matters far more than time for those who are struggling financially.

The project also angered residents who had complained for years about poor access to water and electricity. Many wondered why the government had not solved these basic problems first. Some stations were damaged during the political change. The new government has announced no plan for the cable cars.