The second term of the school started yesterday accompanied by its burgeoning traffic problems.
Commuters and motorists braced themselves for traffic congestion across town centres with suggestions that the Government ought to stop vehicle imports as a solution.
Cab driver Manoj Kumar voiced his frustrations to The Fiji Times over the congestion problem, especially in high-density areas such as Nadera and Nakasi, where short trips can take up to an hour during peak hours.
He said the root of the problem centred around the ongoing importation of cars.
“Where are the cars going to go?” he questioned.
“The roads are so small and yet the Government is still bringing in vehicles from overseas.”
Mr Kumar, who’s been driving for more than 30 years, is acutely aware of the road conditions.
“There is no space. The Government should stop bringing in more vehicles. That’s why a lot of accidents happen on our roads.”
Arieta Navosa, 61, of Suvavou Village in Lami, a vendor based at the FNPF Plaza, echoed similar sentiments.
She said her daily routine would be affected by both the traffic and unreliable bus services.
“My day at my booth starts at 9am and I always wake up at 5 every morning, do my chores and then head to work,” Ms Navosa said.
“But this traffic, even on public holidays, still affects my daily routine.”
She said that apart from having to wait for the bus — at times more than an hour, commuters have to contend with traffic along Rokobili industrial subdivision in Walu Bay on their way into the city.
“We have witnessed many accidents, big and small, and it’s time that the Government stops bringing in more vehicles because there’s already a lot of cars on the road.”
Questions sent to Transport Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau have remained unanswered.
Earlier this year, LTA CEO Irimaia Rokosawa told a public consultation on traffic congestion along the Suva-Nausori corridor of public concerns about the number of vehicles on the roads creating traffic flow bottlenecks.
He said placing a cap on imported second-hand motor vehicles was one of the measures proposed to better manage the suffocating traffic congestion gripping the country’s main highways.
“With regards to the number of vehicles that can be owned by respective households, that’s something we are also working on, something similar to Singapore,” Mr Rokosawa said.
“We are working with the stakeholders and the Solicitor-General’s office to ensure some of these controls are embedded in the regulations.”
