Poor roads keep Vatubogi children out of school

Children in Vatubogi, Bua are missing school because of deteriorating road conditions.

Resident Salendra Deo said the situation has worsened over the years.

“As a concerned parent, we are facing the worst road conditions I have seen in my 40 years of living in this area,” Mr Deo said.

He said companies carting crushed stones from the area, along with heavy trucks, were contributing to the deterioration of the road, especially during wet weather.

“We understand it is rainy weather and roads are prone to deteriorate in such conditions, but not to this extent if repair works are carried out on time," he said.

Mr Deo said children attending school, the elderly and the sick all rely on the road, and with an estimated population of more than 7000 people, the community faces significant challenges due to poor infrastructure.

He is calling on the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) to act promptly, saying residents continue to face difficulties because of the poor condition of the road.

In response, the FRA said the primary issue affecting the road conditions in Vatubogi is related to a drainage outlet or easement through adjacent farmland along that section of the road.

The authority said blockage of this drainage outlet has led to significant waterlogging along the roadside, which over time has caused structural damage to the roadway.

FRA said it is currently in the process of seeking approval from landowners to address the situation.

Once approval is obtained, FRA will proceed with reinstating the affected portion of the carriageway and implementing necessary repairs to prevent further damage and improve road conditions.