A HOVERCRAFT ferry service that could have cut travel time between Nausori and Suva to under 30 minutes may have provided a solution to the chronic congestion along the corridor, but the proposal was rejected in 2019.
Managing director of Goundar Shipping, George Goundar, said the project was submitted that year as a fast and reliable alternative for daily commuters.
“It was unfortunately shut down by the opposition of the previous government where it was proposed by Goundar Shipping and people always have an issue when Goundar Shipping proposed something good for the people of Fiji,” he said.
Mr Goundar said the hovercraft would have operated between Syria Park jetty in Nausori and the “Tiko jetty” (Tiko’s Floating Restaurant) in Suva, offering a swift water-link connection unaffected by tidal conditions.
“There was no issue with the hovercraft and tides, it just glides on water,” he said.
He said the proposed vessel could have carried about 200 passengers per trip, with three to four runs during peak hours, significantly reducing road congestion and easing pressure on infrastructure maintenance costs.
“Now it takes about two and a half hours for you to go from Suva to Nausori on a peak hour and just imagine if you’re raising a family, your kids are unsupervised when they get off school, they are unsupervised for those two and a half hours.
Mr Goundar has called on the Government to reconsider introducing a water-link service between Nausori and Suva, suggesting an open tender process for interested operators.
“The Government should really consider putting out a tender for any shipping company that can provide that service.”
