Photo/Shetuwang

Jan. 6 (NBD) -- The overall design scheme made by Chinese leading electric car manufacturer BYD (002594.SZ) for the SkyRail project in Salvador has gained the approval of the government of the Bahia state, Brazil. 

Construction on the SkyRail in Salvador will be carried out in two phases, with the first phase predicted to commence early this year. According to the previous announcement, the transit system will be put into use in 2021.  

National Business Daily noticed that the project will be the first of its kind for BYD in Latin America. The monorail will be partially built above the sea to connect Salvador's central business district with Sao Joao Island. It will have a total length of 23.28 kilometers and 26 stations. 

Upon its completion, the monorail will be able to carry 150,000 passengers per day and will also connect with Salvador's existing subway network to provide seamless transport services for the city's residents.

The SkyRail, launched by BYD in October 2016 after five years of research and development, is a straddle-beam monorail system that incorporates all of the features needed for rigorous line-haul urban transit applications. And the world's first SkyRail line became operational in Yinchuan, capital of China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in 2017. 

Previously, BYD had reached cooperation with countries like the Philippines, Cambodia, and Egypt to promote the SkyRail system.  

Email: gaohan@nbd.com.cn