Consulting Firm Praises Focus On Transport Infrastructure

Promex Consulting PTE Limited director Lawrence Kumar has joined many Fi­jians who praised the Fijian Gov­ernment for the vision of “Leav­ing no Fijian Behind”.

Mr Kumar supported the vision of the Attorney-General and Min­ister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, who announced that they would allow the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) to continue in­vestment in Fiji’s transport infra­structure.

In the Revised 2021-2022 National Budget, a sum of $338.2 million was allocated to the FRA.

$13.1 million would enable FRA to carry out its daily operations and $325.1 million will finance an important capital projects

“This sector remains a big prior­ity of the Government because it is necessary for economic growth and the general welfare of the peo­ple of this country.” Mr Kumar said.

He added that the sustained in­vestment into roads, bridges, and jetties gave people the access to services, facilities, and markets.

“The Government has done a lot for the Fijian people. I also have staff in my company who appre­ciate this initiative and commit­ment,” Mr Kumar.

The Minister for Economy said a sum of $72.9 million was allo­cated for the maintenance of Fiji’s transport network and road assets such as drainage, footpaths, rail­ings, signage, lights, and signals.

Because of damage to non-FRA roads since January 2022, due to Tropical Cyclone Cody and heavy rainfall, the FRA had been receiv­ing requests for repair of non-FRA roads and other asset–mainly repair of community roads, cross­ings, culverts, and clearing of drainage.

Some projects included the $60 million allocation to FRA for the renewal and replacement of se­verely deteriorated roads, particu­larly under the ‘Rip & Remake’ programme.

This has markedly improved the condition of the sealed road net­work.

$34.02 million is allocated for maintenance and repair of bridg­es, and $14.5 million would fund ongoing contracts under the Rural Roads Programme, which would enhance transport connectivity for rural communities.

A sum of $102.1 million was al­located for the ongoing Transport Infrastructure Investment Sector Programme (TIISP) to rehabilitate major roads along Queens and Kings Roads and complete the designs for the 40 critical bridges and three jetties in Natovi, Sa­vusavu, and Nabouwalu.