The Fiji Bus Operators Association (FBOA) has expressed strong support for the government’s decision to fully subsidize student bus tickets starting September 1, 2024. Richard Lal, the President of the FBOA, highlighted that for over 50 years, bus operators have been subsidizing 50% of student fares, making their situation unique among privatized services.
Lal praised the Cabinet for engaging in meaningful dialogue to reach a solution to this longstanding issue. Under the new policy, students possessing blue and yellow bus cards will have the remaining 50% of their fares covered by the government. This decision follows a review by the Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), which established a new fare calculation method that applies a uniform rate for all bus passengers.
Lal noted that bus operators view the government’s initiative as commendable, recognizing the need for any government to balance national interests with budgetary constraints. Buses play a crucial role in Fiji’s transportation landscape, serving thousands of residents daily. Despite being heavily regulated, the bus sector has grappled with rising operational costs and demands for enhanced services, receiving minimal support from the government.
Over the past five decades, the bus industry has uniquely carried the burden of providing subsidized fares for schoolchildren amidst increasing costs.