The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has received $134.2 million in the 2017-2018 budget compared to last year where they had only received $120.5 million.

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Parveen Bala described it as `a win, win budget’.

“Well I would say that this budget is a win, win situation for all the Fijians in the country, normally when we have a budget like this there are some losses and there are some winners but in this budget basically everybody is a winner because all areas have been catered for,” Mr Bala said.

“The allocation given to us was based on the submissions that we gave to the Ministry of Economy during our consultation and I am happy to say that we have been given exactly what we had proposed,” he said.

Mr Bala highlighted that Nadi should be declared a city by the end of this year.

“We have a time frame sought out for Nadi to be declared a city and we are aiming for the end of the year.

Mr Bala is going to set up an interim committee to organise the announcement.

Fiji Roads Authority has received $527.5 million in the 2017-2018 budget compared to last year’s budget where they received $527.2 million.

“Definitely the budget will assist FRA to carry out the pending works.

“We don’t pick and choose, we don’t do a specific or in particular area or constituency, we look after the roads, bridges and jetties for the whole country so wherever there is a need we will go and do the roads, the bridges and the jetties.

“There are some plans for the replacement of bridges which we will be announcing during the debate.”

Edited by Karalaini Waqanidrola

Feedback: jessica.gounder@fijisun.com.fj