Dialogue Fiji executive director Nilesh Lal has voiced concerns about the proposed reduction in the Fiji Roads Authority’s (FRA) budget for the upcoming financial year. Speaking at the Dialogue Fiji post-budget forum in Suva, Lal highlighted the worry over the $30 million decrease in the FRA’s budget allocation.
Lal noted that although there have been instances where the FRA did not fully utilize its sizeable budget, as was the case in prior years, this changed during the 2022 election year when almost the entire budget was spent. He emphasized that this does not negate the ongoing need for funding.
“The argument is that if we’re going to increase the efficiency and use of the grants given to FRA, such as looking at contract modalities, then they need less money,” Lal said. “However, if you look at the state of our roads and the need to build bridges and other infrastructure, reducing the budget for crucial entities like the Fiji Roads Authority is not advisable.”
Lal argued that with an increasing total National Budget each fiscal year, it is expected that allocations to essential entities like FRA should also rise. According to the proposed 2024-2025 National Budget, FRA will receive $354.8 million, which is a reduction of $32.8 million from previous allocations.