The government is weighing a suite of short- and medium-term measures to relieve chronic congestion on the Nausori–Suva corridor, including a radical shift in office start times and a proposed ferry service, Public Works and Transport Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau said on Monday.
Mr Tuisawau confirmed a government taskforce is actively reviewing suggestions from civil servants and private‑sector employees aimed at easing peak‑hour pressure. Among ideas under consideration is varying working and school hours — with the proposal to shift the government workday to an 11am start specifically raised as one way to spread commuter demand away from the morning peak. “Look at the variation in working hours, school hours. The taskforce is looking into that at the moment. Definitely, that’s an area we are considering,” he said.
A maritime alternative has also been put forward. George Gounder of Gounder Shipping has proposed a ferry service linking Nausori and Suva to give commuters a waterborne option and bypass the congested roads. Mr Tuisawau said the ferry idea is “definitely one of the options the ministry is looking into,” but made clear it is still at an exploratory stage. “Further groundwork is required before any decision can be made,” he said, noting that supporting infrastructure, visibility and costing would need to be resolved.
The minister said the taskforce’s assessment involves ongoing engagement with a range of stakeholders, including the Ministry of Trade and Commerce, and that practical matters such as terminals, docking facilities, scheduling and the commercial viability of a ferry service are being examined. “There needs to be supporting infrastructure. So that’s also being looked at in terms of visibility and the costing,” he said, signalling that transport ministers are considering both the technical and financial hurdles before proceeding.
The announcement represents the latest development in a broader government effort to tackle traffic growth across the main urban corridor. In August, officials began reviewing vehicle‑import policies as part of a wider package to modernise transport planning and slow the growth in private vehicle numbers—moves intended to complement demand‑management measures such as staggered hours and alternative transport modes.
Commuters between Nausori and Suva have faced daily delays for years as population and vehicle numbers have grown, particularly during morning and evening peaks. The government’s taskforce is expected to weigh options that could deliver quicker relief with limited new capital expenditure — such as staggered start times and changes to school schedules — alongside longer‑term investments that would require budget allocations or private‑sector participation.
For now, no firm decisions or timelines have been announced. Mr Tuisawau said discussions will continue as the taskforce compiles costings, demand projections and stakeholder feedback, after which proposals will be considered for implementation.
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