FRA: Macuata road where bus was stuck not a designated bus route

The Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) has clarified that the Nubunisoqosoqo road in Macuata Province, where a company bus became stuck this week, is a farm road and not an approved bus route.

FRA said the road does not fall under its bus-route maintenance programme, noting that responsibility for the project lies with the Office of the Commissioner Northern.

The authority said its maintenance works in Macuata are focused on the main Wainikoro Road, a designated bus route serving communities from Lagalaga, Wainikoro and Nubu to Wainigadru in the tikina of Nadogo, Namuka, Dogotuki and Saqani.

FRA confirmed that maintenance and restoration works on these main routes are ongoing, with some sections scheduled for later this month following delays caused by recent heavy rainfall.

The clarification follows an incident involving a Vishnu Holdings Limited bus that became stuck on the Nubunisoqosoqo farm road earlier this week.

Vishnu Holdings general manager Shonal Dutt said the bus, driven by Aman Kumar, encountered severe road deterioration while travelling along the road between 1.30pm and 2.30pm.

Passengers, including women and children, were forced to disembark and assist in freeing the bus.

While no injuries were reported, the incident raised serious safety concerns. The driver also reported damage to the bus, including its tyres, bumper and suspension.

The incident has prompted concern among bus operators and passengers about safety on non-designated routes.

FRA reiterated that farm roads are not constructed or maintained to accommodate heavy vehicles such as buses and urged operators to use approved routes only.

The authority also encouraged local stakeholders to report urgent road safety concerns through the appropriate channels to ensure timely assessment and response.