Assistant Minister for Transport Naisa Tuinaceva told Parliament on Tuesday that the government has begun implementing measures to tackle traffic congestion that has plagued Fiji’s main transport corridors for more than a decade. Speaking during the debate on the President’s Address, Tuinaceva said congestion is most acute on school days and during weekday peak hours, and singled out the Suva–Nausori, Lami–Suva and Nadi–Lautoka corridors as priorities for action.
Tuinaceva said work under the fifth phase of the government’s congestion plan in the Central Division has already delivered measurable gains, reducing travel times on major routes by between 15 and 25 minutes. She told MPs that further improvements are expected as the programme continues and that government targets include cutting travel times by as much as 50 percent along the Suva–Nausori corridor and other key links connecting the capital with growing residential areas.
Among the non-infrastructure measures Tuinaceva mentioned were proposals to promote flexible working hours to ease peak‑hour pressure on roads. She framed the approach as a package of interventions — roadworks and traffic management combined with changes to commuting patterns — intended to spread demand away from the busiest periods. The Assistant Minister did not provide a detailed timetable for when the 50 percent reductions might be realised.
Despite the government’s assurances, commuters and motorists say conditions have not yet improved enough on the ground. Many continue to report lengthy queues and unpredictable journey times along the Suva–Nausori corridor, which links the capital with the growing Nausori residential belt. Drivers, students and business operators told lawmakers travel delays remain disruptive to work and school schedules, with queues sometimes stretching for kilometres during the morning and evening peaks.
The latest progress report comes amid broader government concern about the strain on road capacity as vehicle numbers rise. Transport and road‑safety stakeholders have previously warned that increasing private vehicle ownership and limited road space require a mix of demand‑management and infrastructure investment to avoid worsening congestion and safety risks. Tuinaceva’s comments indicate the government is pursuing multiple corridors and policy levers rather than isolated works.
Tuinaceva urged patience while the fifth phase projects continue, saying the early time savings show the plan is yielding benefits. She did not, however, outline funding sources for subsequent phases or provide specific completion dates for the corridor works mentioned in Parliament. Opposition lawmakers and commuter groups are expected to press for clearer milestones and for more immediate steps to relieve chronic bottlenecks as families and businesses contend with ongoing delays.
As the government moves to expand traffic mitigation measures, the debate is likely to focus on whether short‑term fixes and behaviour changes such as flexible hours can provide meaningful relief while longer‑term corridors and capacity upgrades are rolled out. For now, the Ministry of Transport’s claim of 15–25 minute time savings marks the latest development in a story where many motorists say the lived experience on key routes has yet to match official assurances.
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