The Public Works Department (PWD) has officially become a legal entity under the Ministry of Public Works, Meteorological Services & Transport. This change has led to the deployment of heavy road work machinery marked “PWD” to locations that require urgent construction and upgrades to access roads.
Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau commented on the deplorable condition of many rural and maritime roads, attributing their neglect largely to the previous administration. He noted that roads not included in the Fiji Roads Authority’s (FRA) inventory were categorized as non-FRA roads, leaving them outside routine maintenance programs. With the new Coalition Government in power, this approach has shifted significantly.
To enhance road maintenance efforts, the government has purchased additional road work machinery, which is now stationed at divisional depots in Suva, Lautoka, and Labasa. Currently, PWD is undertaking road construction in several areas, including Nasereilagi, Nalidi, Roma in Ra, Naisogo in Naitasiri, Nasealevu in Macuata, and Vanuabalavu in Lau.
This initiative reflects a proactive approach by the current government to improve infrastructure, aiming to address long-standing issues that have hindered transportation in rural regions. The revival of the PWD signifies a commitment to upgrading vital road networks and can bring about positive changes for communities that rely on these routes for access and connectivity.
In summary, the PWD’s burgeoning role and the investment in road work machinery herald a new era of infrastructural enhancement in Fiji, aimed at rectifying past oversights and ensuring better access for all.
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