ROAD CONDITIONS AFFECT NORTH BUS SERVICE

About 10 villages at Naividamu in Seaqaqa will be without bus services from today because operator Dalip Chand and Son Limited has decided to go only half way on the route.

The worsening road conditions hasmade it impossible for buses servicing the route.

General manager Kunal Chand said they had to dispatch two excavators to Naividamu Friday morning after a bus had slipped off the road.

He said this was the first bus to the area and passengers were on board with their supplies making their way to the market.

“The road conditions are deplorable but despite this we have maintained our services because to us the people are important,” Mr Chand said.

“We have now come to a stage when we cannot risk any more damage to our buses and also risk the lives of passengers and our drivers.

“The other day is a good example. The bus was hanging halfway on a slope. This is because of the road conditions.” According to Mr Chand, they have written various emails and made several phone calls but the road has not been tended to.

He said they had no choice but to return from Korotolutolu, which is the half way point along the Naividamu route.

The coastal route is a long and the bus company travels through four different fare stages. Most villages along this route depend heavily on the bus service as means of getting either their catch or produce to the market.

Mr Chand said the company does not want to do this but the road conditions are not letting them service the entire route.

SHALVEEN CHAND