Transport in Madagascar


Paved and unpaved roadways, as well as railways, provide the main forms of transport in Madagascar. In 2010, Madagascar had approximately of paved roads, of railways and of navigable waterways.

Railways

There are several rail lines and stations in Madagascar. Antananarivo is connected to Toamasina, Ambatondrazaka and Antsirabe by rail, and another rail line connects Fianarantsoa to Manakara.
The northern railway is concessioned to Madarail. The southern line, Fianarantsoa-Côte-Est railway, is a parastatal line.

Highways

The majority of roads in Madagascar are unpaved, with many becoming impassable in the rainy season. Largely paved national routes connect the six largest regional towns to Antananarivo, with minor paved and unpaved routes providing access to other population centers in each district.

Routes Nationales (National roads)

Waterways

The relatively short rivers of Madagascar are typically of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Lakandranon' Ampangalana are navigated by pirogue. Coastal inter-city transport routes are found along the west coast.

Ports and harbors

The most important seaport in Madagascar is located on the east coast at Toamasina. Ports at Toliara, Mahajanga, and Antsiranana are significantly less used because of their remoteness. The island's newest port at Port d'Ehola, constructed in 2008 and privately managed by Rio Tinto, will come under state control upon completion of the company's mining project near Tôlanaro around 2038. The country's principal cargo port is Toamasina Autonomous Port.

Airports

The main international airport in Madagascar is Ivato International Airport in Antananarivo. Air Madagascar services the island's many small regional airports, which offer the only practical means of access to many of the more remote regions during rainy season road washouts. There are 29 airports with paved runways, and 104 airports with unpaved runways.