The Land Transport Authority will bring in more electronic equipment to clamp down on overloading vehicles, speeding and red light cameras.

The authority was provided an operating grant of $18million in the 2016 National Budget – $6.5m of its (increased) capital grant will go towards projects such as an electronic queue management system and other system upgrades.

The Minister for Finance, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, while announcing the budget last Friday,  said the overall increase would provide the additional 71 staff required for law enforcement and road safety and will meet operational expenses for LTA and four new offices around the country—in Nabouwalu, Lekutu, Korovou and Navua.

LTA’s chief executive officer Naisa Tuinaceva said: “The work is getting more demanding, the expectation is getting more and more and we need that support to do our work effectively.

“This year we have faced a lot of challenges especially on the fatalities and accidents and incidents on the roads but we have limitations and constraints but having more of the increase in the budget will really help us to do more on our roads especially in driving safety on our roads- that is the priority.”

He said the increment would allow them to work even harder.

“The increase in the budget means increase in the manpower, and ability for us to try and work on a 24-hour basis especially for policing and enforcement work on the road,” Mr Tuinaceva said.

“We are going to buy some portable scales to assist us in clamping down on overloading on our roads. We are looking at purchasing another red light and two speed cameras.”

Feedback:  farisha.ahmed@fijisun.com.fj