The drop in the budget allocation for the Fiji Roads Authority certainly isn’t getting the seal of approval in some quarters.
Dialogue Fiji executive director Nilesh Lal reckons it isn’t a good idea.
While speaking at the Dialogue Fiji post-budget forum in Suva on Tuesday night, Mr Lal expressed concern over the $30million decrease to FRA’s budget allocation.
While there had been instances in the past where the FRA, Mr Lal noted, was allocated a sizable budget, utilisation was low except for what happened during the election year in 2022, when almost the entire budget was exhausted.
“However, that doesn’t mean the need is not there. The argument is that if we’re going to be increasing the efficiency and the use of some of these grants that are made to FRA for instance, they’re going to look at the contract modalities, then they need less money.
“I think that is what the rationale that has been exercised here, however, if you look at the state of our roads, if you look at the need to build the bridges and other infrastructure, I don’t think it is a good idea to reduce the budget of entities that are important such as the Fiji Roads Authority in this case.”
Under the proposed 2024-2025 National Budget, FRA was allocated a total of $354.8million – a reduction of $32.8 million.
We say there will be questions asked about the reduction, and whether it makes sense at all.
Given the state of our roads in many parts of the country, there obviously will be a leaning towards more work to address major concerns.
In and around the Capital City for instance, road markings are fading, making it difficult to drive at night or during bad weather. Are we even using reflective paint?
You’ve only got to travel along some of the main roads in and around the Capital City and along the way to Nasinu and Nausori to understand the issues raised here.
And if we aren’t vigilant enough, we may regret it.
It is difficult to drive at night and when vehicles are heading your way, the glare of the headlights makes it difficult to drive when you can’t see the centre-line and the edge of the road.
Some roads have no proper drainage system. Potholes are not covered urgently, and it comes at a cost for motor vehicle owners.
They end up paying to fix suspension systems, rattles on their vehicles, tyres and to correct wheel alignment.
Someone needs to be held accountable for this mess!
So again, we raise the issue of relevance, and hope decisions are made taking into consideration what is the reality on the ground.
The last thing we want is safety being compromised because roads are not up to standard.
Again, we say, let’s move beyond the rhetoric and take concrete steps to ensure our roads, right around the country, are safe spaces for everyone!
