For the past year, the road section between the city of Mahajanga and Berivotra has been the subject of numerous complaints from road users. This bumpy stretch is characterized by an advanced state of decay and chaotic conditions.
Traffic on National Route 4, which connects Mahajanga to the capital, is gradually increasing. The first wave of summer vacationers has already returned home after spending a few weeks there since last June. Starting this week, increased traffic is expected on this national route from the capital and other regions of the Great Island.
The section passing through Belobaka in the Mahajanga district, Besely, and up to Berivotra has been particularly criticized. The journey now takes about two hours, compared to forty-five minutes previously. Drivers and passengers describe this final leg of the 570-kilometer trip between Mahajanga and Antananarivo as a true ordeal.
A bush taxi driver remarked, ‘The asphalt has been stripped away in several segments, particularly from the Marohogo forestry station through Besely to Berivotra and Ambovondramanesy. It is unprecedented. Vehicles take much longer to travel between Mahajanga and Berivotra due to the rough, pothole-ridden road. This section has been in a state of total deterioration for over a year, causing damage to vehicles, frequent flat tires, and the need for constant repairs to bearings and bushings. The Ministry of Public Works must resolve this quickly before the next rainy season, which we fear will make things even worse.’
The degradation also affects the urban sections of the national route within Mahajanga, including areas from Ambohimandamina and Tanambao Sotema to Antanimalandy, Amparehigidro, and the exit toward Belobaka. The Mahajanga urban commune officially launched road rehabilitation works last Monday, covering approximately eight sites across the city to improve infrastructure for visitors and residents alike.
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-16 06:11:51 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/route-nationale-n4-la-portion-mahajanga.html