Potholes have become a major road obstacle in Savusavu, says Vishnu Holding Limited general manager Shonal Dutt.
He said that as a result they have been forced to re-route to village roads. “Routes that usually take one hour, now take two,” Mr Dutt said.
“Vital routes, including those servicing the Saqani area, are plagued by deteriorating road conditions, compromising both safety and efficiency,” he said.
“The deteriorating infrastructure extends beyond Savusavu, with routes leading to Wainigadru experiencing a similar decline over the years. Mr Dutt said approximately 75 per cent of the routes the company services remain untarred.
“It’s been like these for years,” he said.
He said neglected routes such as the Natewa West Coast Road exemplified the challenges facing the province of Cakaudrove.
“Despite repeated pleas for intervention, little progress has been made to address underlying issues,” he said, adding he has had to pay additional maintenance and operational costs.
When asked whether he was planning to stop company services in the area, Mr Dutt said he couldn’t because people relied on the service. In response, Commissioner Northern Usaia Rainima said the Fiji Roads Authority and its contractors were working around the clock to fix the damaged roads.
“They have just cleared the roads that were damaged during the bad weather,” he said.
Mr Rainima said if public service vehicle providers face challenges, they should speak to him first to address the issue rather than contact the media.
“I will try to contact officials with the FRA to address the issue,” he said.
Questions sent to the authority on Monday remained unanswered when this edition went to print.
