Government is looking into railway transport as a long-term answer to the country’s growing traffic congestion, with feasibility studies currently in progress.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has confirmed that Japan and Germany are assisting with technical expertise as part of wider efforts to ease heavy traffic, particularly in urban areas and along major highways.
“Traffic congestion is a serious issue in our towns and cities. The Coalition Government is already taking steps to find practical solutions,” Mr Rabuka said.
Proposed measures include bypass roads around Suva and Nausori, while recent public consultations have brought forward short-term suggestions such as carpooling and flexible working hours.
Authorities will now assess the findings to determine whether railway transport is a viable long-term solution.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka made the comments in ‘A Conversation with the PM’ column in response to questions raised in the Letters to the Editor.
Mr Rabuka confirmed the Government was actively exploring solutions, including potential railway systems, with input from leading railway proponents Japan and Germany.
“Congestion on our roads is indeed a major issue in our towns and cities,” he said.
“The Coalition Government is already moving towards finding practical solutions.”
Fiji’s road network, particularly the main arterial routes and highways, has long suffered from gridlock, with proposals for bypass roads around Suva and Nausori.
Existing plans suggest alternative routes via the Kings Rd-Sukanaivalu Rd junction in Nabua or the Ratu Mara Rd-Princes Rd junction, diverting non-Suva bound traffic toward Lami and beyond Korovou.
Public consultations on traffic management strategies have already begun, with Suva hosting a session last month.
Several suggestions were made; including carpooling initiatives and flexible working hours for schools and government employees to alleviate congestion during peak hours.
“These are short to medium-term solutions, of course,” he said.
“In the longer term, options like freeways and railway systems, as some have proposed, may have to be considered.”
The Government, he said, would review findings and determine the viability of implementing rail transport as a long-term fix to Fiji’s traffic woes.
