Traffic Nightmare Will Get Worse

Frustration boiled over at a public consultation on traffic congestion in Suva on Wednesday night, as residents voiced their anger over worsening gridlock along the Suva-Nausori corridor.

Many demanded urgent action, saying the daily struggle of sitting for hours in heavy traffic had become unbearable.

Proposals to ease congestion

Several solutions were put forward, including a suggestion by Harish Chandra, managing director of Regent Taxis Pte Limited, to shift school hours by 30 minutes.

He argued that school drop-offs combined with office work ers on the road during peak hours were a major cause of congestion.

“If you look at traffic during the school holidays, it flows smoothly—there are no issues at all,” he said.

Nakasi resident Indar Deo proposed regulating heavy vehicles during peak hours, a common practice in other countries.

“We need to control the numberof vehicles on the road and restrict non-essential and longhaul trucks during rush hour,” he said.

Another attendee stressed the need for better coordination between the Water Authority and  road agencies to prevent unnecessary roadworks that worsen congestion.

Seven per cent increase in vehicles

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) revealed that the problem is set to get worse, with 10,000 new cars added to the roads in December 2024 alone.

LTA’s chief executive officer, Irimaia Rokosawa, reported a seven per cent increase in registered vehicles last year, with many more still awaiting registration.

“There is a significant backlog of vehicles yet to be registered,” he said, warning that Fiji’s roads cannot cope with the rapid rise in vehicle numbers.

Mr Rokosawa called for a review of vehicle importation and disposal policies, including stricter regulations on house-hold vehicle ownership.

He pointed to Singapore’s model, where car ownership is controlled through high taxes and permits.

“We must reconsider how we manage vehicle ownership in Fiji,” he said.

“We are working with stakeholders to ensure that any new regulations are effective and practical.”

Residents at the consultation made one thing clear: they are tired of waiting.

“We’ve heard enough talk. It’s time for real action,” one frus-trated resident said.