Risky Roads Worry Drivers

Lorry and tractor drivers of Korotari, Labasa are worried about their safety when driving on poorly maintained roads.

A sugarcane farmer and lorry driver in the area, Vishwa Chand, said the road problem was severe and must be addressed to avoid fatal accidents.

“There are rocks on the road surface that can damage the tires or our lorry,” he said.

He claimed the runoff water during rainfall at nearby drains would lead to a good portion of the road being washed away, exposing the rocks.

“We plead with Government if they can grade the road to suppress the rocks,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Biman Prasad, during his budget announcement last month, said Government had prioritised improving road infrastructure to assist farmers to transport their goods to the market.

Mr Chand said the road at Korotari was so severe that almost on all occasions, he had to balance his lorry with his cane load to avoid overloading.

He said previously the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) had done grading works but the problem resurfaced.

Mr Chand reiterated that sugarcane farmers could not harvest a good amount of cane because of the road issue.

“We want to get more cane across, but, the dangerous leads to drivers and farmers thinking twice,” he said.

He claimed previous requests to the Minister for Sugar, Charan Jeath Singh, early this year, have had no response.

Drainage is the biggest cause of this poor state of the road with water runoff washing away the soil, and Mr Chand, believes, certain parts of the road must be developed with drains.

“Some part of the road there is no drain, so it affects the road, so we need proper drains,” he said.

The Vunimoli bridge, which aligns the road to Korotari, is in a deteriorated state and requires urgent fix.

Chand proposes way forward

The 60-year-old farmer proposed to Government and the FRA if they could tar seal three kilometres of road per year at Korotari.

“This should be continued for atleast three to four years, and the entire road problem will be addressed,” he said.

As per vehicle maintenance costs, Mr Chand, said it would depend on the count of usage each year.

“The maintenance cost is high because the road is like rugged terrain we cross daily,” he said.

“Don’t wait for someone to die before any work on the road is done, he urged Government.”

Another resident and daily commuter, Pradeep Lal, said despite Korotari serving as a major area for sourcing raw materials for road works, they too have poor roads.

“Korotari is the mother of all roads in Vanua Levu because our road leads to the spot where gravel and stones (raw materials) are sourced for road works elsewhere in the division,” he claimed.

Korotari is one of many areas in the North where vegetable farmers supply the highest quantity to the Labasa municipal market.

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