Clifton Road Residents Unhappy With Bus Service, LTA Responds

Residents of Clifton Road in Valelevu, Nasinu, are not happy that the bus company that services the area is not making the trips down to the end of the road.

Pranay Hukum, speaking on behalf of the residents, said the company is obligated to make five trips down to the Clifton Road roundabout.

He said the normal route turns into Clifton Road from Nasinu Road and then into the Lagakali Road.

According to the LTA route licensing schedule, five of the trips has to go down to the Clifton Road roundabout.

“This is the timing provided by the Land Transport Authority. Usually there is one trip in the morning and one in the evening,” Mr Hukum said.

“The usual trip that covers other areas on this trip still goes on. I have made several complaints to the bus company and LTA.”

Mr Hukum is a person living with disabilities. His condition restricts him from walking long distance.

The degenerative muscle disorder means he needs a wheelchair more often.

He claims there are no trips on the weekends. He said when the bus did not come he would have to fork out extra money to catch a taxi.

Nasese Buses Company, which services the area, said they had been contacted by Mr Hukum.

“The Clifton Road roundabout is a small area and hard for the buses to turn around. Residents are parking their cars along the road,” said company director Jack Kumar.

According to the LTA’s route licensing, all areas agreed by the service provider must be adhered to.

Failure to do so could result in the cancellation of the particular licence.

According to Mr Hukum, he has kept records of correspondence with LTA and is willing to present it should the need arise.

In response, LTA said they discussed the issues concerning bus services on the above-mentioned areas with the bus proprietors, who have been advised to adhere to their licence conditions providing the services as expected to the customers and according to their timetable.

LTA said failure to adhere to their licence conditions will result in Traffic Infringement Notice being issued to the bus companies, show-cause before the LTA, and revocation of their bus service licence.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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