RARS PTE Limited will begin the construction of its $10 million complex at Waidamudamu in Nakasi next year.

The company aims to have the ground breaking ceremony by December. Company owner and managing director, Rajendra Deo Prasad said the complex would house an underground car park, shopping outlets, an event hall and office spaces.

It will be located beside its newly opened RARS Nakasi service station.

Service Station

The service station was a $1.2 million investment by the company. Waidamudamu is a water logged area so the company spent $500,000 to develop the land.

“It is more than just a service station, there is a mini supermarket with a cosmetic department and we are waiting for our liquor license to be approved,” Mr Prasad said.

“While they fuel up they can also do their shopping.”

Mr Prasad said 11 people have been employed at the new service station. The Taukei Namara, Ratu Peni Sogia from Naduri Macuata officially opened the service station.

This is the second service station owned by Mr Prasad. His first station was opened in 2011 at Navua.

 Background

Mr Prasad of Bulileka in Labasa is a bus proprietor. He owns Northern Buses.

He began working at the bus industry when he was only nine years old, as a clerical officer for his father. He later became a bus checker and learnt all that he needed from his late father who was the shareowner of the then Latchman Buses.

His father passed on when he was in Form 5 (Year 11). With assistance from a close friend, Mr Prasad bought an excavator and started his own civil works company which is the parent company of all his businesses.

He said one of the challenges he faced was moving from one type of business to another.

“I did a lot of contracts for the development of Labasa through my civil work business (Bulileka Civil Works),” Mr Prasad said.

“I also secured a $3 million project from the European Union for the construction of some school buildings in Labasa and Sigatoka.”

“This was the main contribution to my investment into the service stations,” he said.

” Mr Prasad spent most of his time learning from his elders and the support gained from his family and loyal workers was unconditional.”

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