The Government planned to spend about $2.5million to upgrade Khalsa Rd in Nasinu as part of efforts to improve road infrastructure and ease growing traffic congestion between Suva and Nausori.
According to a report published by The Fiji Times on May 3, 1994, then Director of Roads, Vuetasau Buatoka, said work on the Khalsa Rd project, linking Princes Rd and Kings Rd through Newtown and Valelevu, was expected to be completed by the end of the year.
“If the weather is favourable, we will complete the project on schedule and move on to our next project,” he said.
The project formed part of the $120million Fiji Road Upgrading Project (FRUP) Stage II, funded by the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and the Export-Import Bank of Japan (EXIM).
Mr Buatoka said the program included the upgrading of three major roads in the Central Division.
“We have plans under the Fiji Road Upgrading Project II to upgrade Cunningham Rd and now Khalsa Rd.”
He said Princes Rd from Tamavua to Nausori had already been upgraded, with work to continue on Kings Rd before moving to Ratu Dovi Rd at Laucala Beach Estate.
The Kings Rd upgrade between Suva and Nausori was expected to cost about $10million and was designed to accommodate future traffic growth.
Mr Buatoka said the projects would improve road conditions and help reduce congestion, adding that other traffic bottlenecks in Suva had already been identified for future upgrades as part of the government’s long-term road development plan.
