New Savusavu market under scrutiny after cracks emerge on ground floor

The incomplete  $6.2 million  new Savusavu market has come under the spotlight after  concerns that cracks are visible on the ground floor of the two-storey municipal market, raising  questions of  structural defects.

Sources, close to the project, said the cracks were worrying because it had long-term risks if the issue was not addressed.

However, Minister for Housing and Local Government, Maciu Nalumisa, reassures that the cracks on the concrete floor are not a concern.

Mr Nalumisa said the lead consultant told him that the cracks were not a structural defect.

It is understood that the lead consultant and the builder were paid in accordance with their contract. Work has yet to be completed.

The lead consultant in the project is Chand Engineering Consultants Ltd, owned by Abhinesh Chand. The main contractor is Jenns Construction Ltd, owned by Kuberan Chetty.

Engineering experts, who spoke to us anonymously, said cracks on the concrete floor could either be because of a structural defect, material defect or design defect.

Cracks in concrete worsen over time if water seeps into them, which could destabilise the foundation of the market.

Mr Abhinesh refused to comment on the issue.

He referred all questions to the Savusavu Town Council as the project principal.

Mr Abhinesh has yet to release his report to the council and Mr Nalumisa.

Savusavu Town Council special administrator, Shiu Sharma, and acting chief executive officer, Nilesh Chand, agreed that the cracks were only on the surface.

Mr Chetty added that the cracks were not a concern.

“It’s not a big issue. It’s not a structural defect,” he said.

“Cracks are evident in big construction projects, especially in concrete, even in supermarkets in Australia and New Zealand.”

Mr Chetty said earlier media reports stating that the project cost $1 million was incorrect.

“Steel itself costs US$550,000 (FJ$1.2 million), how can the project be $1 million?”

Sources close to the project said the cracks were worrying because they had long-term risks if the issue was not addressed.

Minister for Local Government, Maciu Nalumisa (left), briefed by Savusavu Town Council special administrator Shiu Sharma inside the new market in Savusavu on April 10, 2025.

Supplied

MINISTER’S COMMENTS

Minister for Housing and Local Government, Maciu Nalumisa, inspected the market and held discussions with stakeholders last month.

It was initially planned for the market to open this month; however, following Mr Nalumisa’s visit, the opening date has been changed to May 9, 2025.

“I believe taxpayers’ money has been paid to contract and lead consultants,” Mr Nalumisa said in an interview this week.

“According to the project lead consultant who manages the project, it’s not really a structural gap.”

Mr Nalumisa said the ministry and the council were working on the issue.

“It’s something that we are also working on. But what I can assure you is that it has been confirmed that it’s not a structural defect.

“It’s an issue that needs to be rectified now.”

ORIGINAL PROJECT 

The Savusavu market project broke ground on October 27, 2022.

Like many current local government projects, the Savusavu Market is a spillover from the previous government.

Opposition Member of Parliament Premila Kumar was the Minister for Local Government at the time.

The original plan for the market, as announced by Ms Kumar at the time, was that apart from the market vendors, there would also be coffee shops, an information booth, a handicraft centre, and kiosks.

The ground floor would have small and medium enterprise vendors, kiosks, and a conference room.

It was announced at the time that the market would feature user-friendly elevators for physically challenged vendors and market users.

However, given the current progress rate of the project, questions have been raised about whether the original plan for the two-storey market can be achieved.

The project was completed in a little over two years.

COST OF INCOMPLETE PROJECT 

The overall cost of the project is still unclear.

It is understood that the current structure does not have furniture or built-in stalls for the vendors.

We were reliably informed that a tender was put out last month for another contractor to build stalls.

This is a separate cost, which would likely be drawn from donors.

The market, once completed and opened, will accommodate about 180 to 200 vendors.

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