Starting Sunday, September 1, student bus fares will see an increase. However, students using the blue and yellow bus cards will not be affected by this change.
Joel Abraham, CEO of the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), stated that while student fares have been adjusted to match adult fares, the government will fully subsidize this increase.
“Our assessment showed that this change will not financially burden students or their families. The government’s subsidy will completely cover any additional costs for students, even during weekends and school holidays, while adult fares will remain the same,” he explained.
Fare specifics include:
– For students with a Blue Card, the government will cover 100% of the increase in fare.
– For Yellow Card holders, students will continue to pay the current fare, with the remaining costs subsidized by the government at all times, including weekends and school holidays.
This fare adjustment follows a thorough review by the FCCC, which introduced a new per-seat fare allocation model. The review, carried out in collaboration with bus industry operators, ensures that bus operators receive fair compensation through a comprehensive cost recovery model.
Mr. Abraham highlighted that this initiative is designed to sustain the bus industry while keeping costs manageable for consumers. He also stressed the importance of bus operators maintaining and improving service quality in light of the new fare structure.
“We will be actively monitoring the services provided by bus operators to ensure they adhere to expected standards and deliver value to passengers in accordance with the fare adjustments.”