At the launching of the National Transport Corporation (NTC) 15-seater buses, this morning, at Rose Belle Traffic Centre, the Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Alan Ganoo, stated that Government will continue to strive for the modernisation of the public bus transport system to serve the needs of the 450,000 commuters in Mauritius.
The Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance, Mr Mahen Kumar Seeruttun; the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Recreation, Mr Stephan Toussaint; the Minister of National Infrastructure and Community Development, Mr Mahendranuth Sharma Hurreeram, and other personalities were present at the event.
According to Mr Ganoo, though the NTC is the largest bus operator in the country with a fleet of 544 buses, 30% of its routes are not financially viable. He explained that the four 15-seater buses, procured by the NTC to the tune of Rs 4.5 million and equipped with GPS device and dashboard camera, will serve these social routes so as to minimise cost and maximise efficiency. Thus, passengers on routes St Hubert – Curepipe, and Carreau Acacia – Rose Belle will benefit from this new service. He added that by the end of the year, 10 other similar buses will be purchased, while Rs 75 million has been provided in the budget in the context of the renewal of the bus fleet of the Corporation.
The Minister moreover spoke of the financial difficulties of bus operators, including the NTC, following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a 20% loss in revenue. He stressed that the public transport sector is complicated and dynamic, with the need for continuous improvements and innovations. He said that Government is implementing the Integrated Transport System which comprises the Metro Express Project. Recalling that the project will be extended to other regions across the island, he affirmed that the number of people using the Metro Express as a means of transport has increased by two-folds since the line Rose-Hill – Quatre Bornes came into operation.
Both Ministers Seeruttun and Hurreeram welcomed the initiative of the NTC which, they said, will solve the long-standing public transport problem in Constituencies 11 and 12. They averred that the new facilities will enable inhabitants of the region to get access to timely and reliable transport services. While Mr Seeruttun highlighted Government’s commitment to improve and modernise infrastructure and services for the welfare of the population, Mr Hurreeram asked for the collaboration of everyone to find effective solutions to various issues. For his part, Mr Toussaint thanked all stakeholders who contributed to the new transportation service and called on passengers to respect hygienic measures against Covid-19.
