Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Metro System Network spans over 30 kilometres of track consisting of Line 1 from Port Louis to Curepipe, and Line 2 from Rose Hill to Reduit via Ebene Cyber City. The two lines are serviced by a fleet of 18 light rail vehicles and some 37,000 persons daily avail of the LRT services. We have time and again heard that the system has benefits and I have on my side always believed that we will never know the real value of these benefits if we do not have a monetary value attached to them. This work has been done lately with the compliments of the British Government. We have a report dated 06 May 2026 from Crossrail International, a specialist advisory organisation from the UK Government for Transport, that suggests that the monetised benefits of the Metro System are estimated at some Rs1.7 billion per year and that this is not visible in the traditional financial accounts. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, during the last policy dialogue meeting my Ministry had with the Ministry of Finance ahead of the budget exercise, I had raised two points – i. We have managed to reduce the operational expenses of the Metro Express Limited by 10.4% as at June 2025 as compared to June 2024, and ii. unlike a bus company which uses public infrastructure like roads and bus stops built by Government, the Metro runs on railway track and uses train stations that itself has to build at very high cost, and on top of that they have to be maintained – the Metro has to maintain the track and not Government. So, the economics are not the same. With regard to the second point, I was then advised that we need to relook at the way accounts are done. That would certainly give an opportunity to the extent possible. I believe the Ministry of Finance is the competent authority in the domain to also factor in the monetised wider benefits that Crossrail International has calculated for us. I am hopeful, therefore, to reply to the substantive question of the hon. Member that this proposed way of looking at things, that is looking at the wider benefits, that one day should the financial situation of the country allow for it, the Government can, therefore, consider extending the Metro System all the way to the airport. I do believe that this is a logical trajectory to pursue as in most countries the light rail system connects with their airports and I rest my case as follows. During the last courtesy call he paid to me last Wednesday, I asked the High Commissioner of Singapore to Mauritius the specific question on Metro System and airports. I took the opportunity to ask him this question because he is also the Chairman of the Changi Airport Group for which extension is currently being carried out for phase five. He confirmed that Singapore Metro System goes to the airport as well. In our country, it is sad that the previous government did not consider this as a priority. Instead, they went to Cote d’Or and Saint Pierre for obvious reasons. Finally, this project was abandoned because the Exim Bank of China had pulled out of this project because of serious flaws in their procurement procedure. Further, in the substantive question, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, of the hon. Member, I understand from information obtained from the Ministry of Housing and Lands that there are two ex-railway tracks in the South Eastern and Southern regions spanning from Curepipe to Beau Vallon and Mahebourg and from Curepipe to Souillac. Although part of the required land may be available as preservation was well done, the extension of the services of the Metro Express Limited to these regions imply huge investments which cannot be envisaged as at present or in the short term due to the dire economic situation. For a better understanding of the magnitude of the financial implications, MEL has indicated that the construction for phase four from Reduit to Cote d’Or stood at approximately Rs1.7 billion per kilometre in 2023, that is Rs1.7 million per meter, which is quite a huge figure, while the procurement of a single light rail vehicle, meaning the train, costs around Rs250 million. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, to end, my Ministry has launched an international bidding exercise for consultancy services for the development of the 20-year Land Transport Master Plan with the support of the UNDP and this question will be taken on board, that is further extension including to the airport.

Yes.

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. I thank the hon. Minister for his reply. Will the hon. Minister agree that extending the Metro line to the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport and the Southern region is a project of great national importance given that it will strengthen connectivity, it will promote balanced regional development, improve access to employment and essential services. It will further reduce traffic congestions and carbon emissions and further enhance Mauritius's image as a modern…

What is your question?

…sustainable and world-class destination.

You are making a speech! What is your question?

Will the hon. Minister give due consideration to prioritising this project in its long-term infrastructure planning…

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…once the financial situation improves?

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, like I mentioned, the master plan that we have launched consultancy for, will have as aim to put recommendations and action plans for an integrated multimodal transport system that would adequately respond to the economic development of the country and the travel demand across the island. Any extension of the light rail, to reply to the additional question of the hon. Member, will be considered within the terms of reference of the consultancy, and reckoning also with the report of Crossrail International in the spirit of sustainable development of the Republic.

The hon. Third Member for Pamplemousses and Triolet!

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, B/1052. The hon. Minister is not here.

Sit down. The hon. Minister is not here. So, we will proceed with the next question and we will call the question back when he is here. The hon. First Member for Port Louis North and Montagne Longue! PRIVATE VETERINARY SERVICES – EXCESSIVE FEES – REGULATION