A bus from Vishnu Holdings Limited carrying twelve passengers and the driver managed to avoid injury after veering off the road at Buca Bay, Cakaudrove, on Tuesday afternoon. General manager Shonal Dutt reported that the incident was linked to the poor conditions of the road.
Dutt confirmed, “It was nothing serious, and no one was injured. The bus went off the road due to poor conditions.” A replacement bus arrived within 30 minutes to ensure that the journey could continue.
He expressed concerns about the ongoing issues with the poorly maintained road, noting that while the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) executes temporary repairs, the situation often reverts to its prior state shortly thereafter. Additionally, Dutt pointed out that saltwater intrusion from the nearby sea worsens the road conditions.
Despite these adversities, Vishnu Holdings remains committed to servicing the route. Dutt urged the FRA to take more decisive measures and called on the government to ensure that bus routes receive the necessary maintenance. “We pay road levies, but it’s hard to see where the money goes as many roads remain in dire need of repair,” he remarked.
He also called for direct discussions with the FRA to tackle these chronic issues. Despite Vishnu Holdings’ participation in earlier public consultations held by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), many of their concerns have yet to be addressed. LTA’s chief executive officer, Irimaia Rokosawa, underscored the importance of working closely with transportation providers as a way to effectively handle such challenges.
This incident highlights a critical issue regarding infrastructure in the region and underscores the need for improvement to enhance the safety and reliability of public transport. The proactive stance of the bus company in facing these challenges gives hope that collaboration between the authorities and transport operators may lead to effective solutions in the future.
Overall, addressing road maintenance can potentially lead to safer travel conditions for everyone and ultimately better services for the community.
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