The construction site of the new city of Imerintsiatosika appears frozen in time. The settlement of future residents in the city is reportedly under study. The 320-unit housing complex remains closed and uninhabited.
There are no signs of activity at the Imerintsiatosika new city construction site. The 320-unit housing complex has not yet welcomed its residents. Its grounds are overgrown with brush. The buildings intended for housing are gradually deteriorating, with some not even fully completed. One or two kilometers away, in the area designated for administrative facilities, construction projects have stalled. The few administrative buildings that have been erected, notably the Press House, are already showing signs of decay. Land originally reserved for commerce and public services has been converted into agricultural land, which local villagers have appropriated. Public schools remain unused.
Currently, only the city's main avenue is operational. This road connects Imerintsiatosika to surrounding villages and serves as the terminus for bajajs, motorized tricycles that are the primary transport in the area.
According to an official at the Ministry of Land Planning and Land Services, the project is not completely halted. The settlement of residents in the already-constructed city is continuing. "Consultations have been held to define the procedures for continuing previous processes. The ministry has received requests regarding the allocation of housing units for which payments have already been made. Other buyers have not yet paid the required amounts. Measures have been taken regarding the renewal or termination of contracts for these units," the source explained.
Beneficiaries of housing units, selected by lottery in February 2023, remain hopeful of moving into the new city buildings. "Some come to check on construction progress. One future resident even returns frequently, bitterly reflecting that he should already be living here by now," said a caretaker of the 320-unit complex.
Some construction companies continue work on the housing units. "Recently, companies came to repaint the interior and exterior of the homes, which is why these buildings don't have the orange color of other constructions," the caretaker explained. However, these interventions remain barely visible from outside. The city remains uninhabitable, as it is still not connected to water and electricity networks.
The Imerintsiatosika new city was intended to host numerous major projects, including connections to water, electricity, and road networks, along with high-capacity solar parks to supply Tanamasoandro. Infrastructure plans also included a university, national stadium, National School of Magistracy, and a ministerial complex to house central administration officials. While resident settlement is already scheduled, the fate of other projects remains uncertain.