The mid-morning fire that devastated the central business district of Labasa has prompted Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to disclose plans for the construction of a bypass route into the northern town.

It is viewed as an urgent matter to promote growth.

But the more pressing reason is because the Labasa Fire Station has only one entry into the main town, via the Labasa Bridge accessible by both private and public vehicles.

“That plan was long before this fire,” Mr Rabuka said.

“It has been on the drawing board for some time, but nobody has thought about the FSC reserve on the tramline which is not really used.

“It is used during cane cutting season, but apart from that, it is used very little.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.. Photo: Josua Buredua

“We are thinking about that, but obviously we were caught unprepared.”

This will depend on the availability of funds reallocated but, according to Mr Rabuka the problem has been considered and was worked out.

A feasibility assessment of the project, which contains three possibilities for development, is expected to be released by the Ministry of Finance.

The feasibility study and the first two segments of the bypass road in Labasa Town were funded with $700,000 by the previous administration.

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