There’s been a call to address the lack of public consultations surrounding the proposed bypass road project.
Labasa Chamber of Commerce president Vinesh Dayal said stakeholders had not been adequately informed or involved in the planning process.
“We are aware that there has been some allocation of funding for the bypass road,” Mr Dayal said.
“It is difficult to see how the bypass road would ease congestion, especially if it leads onto the same bridge.”
Mr Dayal said simply adding another road without addressing the core issues was flawed.
“The construction of a new bridge should be prioritised before any work on the bypass road begins,” he said.
In response, Finance Minister Prof Biman Prasad said the surveying of the Fiji Sugar Corporation tramline had been completed.
“The design planning and stakeholder consultations are ongoing, including with the Ministry of Sugar, FSC, Water Authority of Fiji, EFL and others regarding the relocation of central services related to the project,” Prof Prasad said.
He said consultations were still in progress, and that some of the concerns raised would likely be considered by stakeholders as they worked toward a design that would make a meaningful difference.