The new bus fare structure that was announced in August has officially come into effect. Joel Abraham, the chief executive of the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), explained that under the new framework, adjustments have been made to student fares to bring them in line with adult fares. However, the Government will fully subsidize this increase.
Abraham assured that the assessment was designed to ensure families would not face additional financial burdens due to the new fare structure, stating that the changes will have no financial impact on students and parents. He noted that the Government’s subsidy completely covers any extra costs for students, including on weekends and during school holidays, while adult fares will remain unchanged.
Key fare details include:
– **Blue Card**: The Government will provide a full subsidy for the additional student fare.
– **Yellow Card**: Students will continue to pay the current fare, with any additional amount fully covered by the Government, applicable at all times, including weekends and school holidays.
This fare adjustment follows an extensive review by the FCCC, which shifted to a per-seat fare allocation model. The review was conducted in close collaboration with bus industry operators to ensure that operators receive fair compensation through a complete cost allocation recovery model, which aims to sustain the industry while keeping fares affordable for consumers.
Abraham added that with the implementation of the new fare structure, bus operators are expected to maintain and enhance the quality of their services. “We will monitor the services provided by bus operators closely to ensure they meet the expected standards and offer value to passengers in accordance with the fare adjustments,” he stated.
Looking forward, the FCCC is set to initiate the next bus fare review process in September 2024, which will begin with data collection and thorough analysis. This is to ensure that future fare adjustments align with market conditions while balancing the interests of consumers and the industry.