Fiji’s roads may be reaching a tipping point as the number of vehicles continue to grow faster than available road space, Minister for Public Works, Transport and Meteorological Services Ro Filipe Tuisawau has warned.
About 240,000 registered vehicles and licences operate on roughly 7000 kilometres of roads nationwide, raising concerns about congestion, safety, and long-term sustainability.
“We want roads where people can move freely and safely. If vehicle growth continues unchecked, we will place increasing strain on infrastructure that was never designed for this volume,” Ro Filipe said.
He said the LTA and Department of Transport were reviewing policies to manage the ratio of vehicles to road space.
“We need a framework to provide clear directions and policies on vehicle growth,” he said, noting that the Fiji Roads Authority and Public Works Department are also working on road extension and quality improvements.
He also highlighted preparations for electric vehicles.
“E-vehicles are coming in, but we need to update our regulations and policies in terms of new technologies and vehicle types. Infrastructure, including charging facilities, must be planned carefully, and we need to determine who bears the cost,” he said.
Ro Filipe emphasised ethical conduct at LTA, citing complaints from the public.
“We must ensure officers conduct themselves ethically at all levels, from operations to management,” he said.
