The government has been fast in working out the mechanism for implementing free public transport to students and old age pensioners. However the high-powered committee chaired by the Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport has resolved that the mechanism will be fine tuned during the process of its application following observations and feedback from stakeholders.

As an active observer of the public transport industry I wish to make some suggestions:

(1) At present many old people complain that although they pay half-price fare they are not taken on board by public buses. With the new decision to allow them to travel free they will encounter more difficulties at the bus stops. The National Transport Authority spokesmen have stated that sanctions will be severe against bus drivers and conductors with a fine of Rs5000

However I wonder how many old people of 65-75 years will dare report contraventions to the authorities i.e. the N.T.A . These old people are not aware to which office to address themselves for complaints and even if they come to know, there are only two offices of the N.T.A for the whole island: one at Cassis, Port Louis and one at Forest Side. How we would expect old people to move from Vieux Grand Port or Chemin Grenier to the N.T.A offices. The N.T.A should necessarily decentralise and sub-offices should be located at the different traffic centres throughout the island for a better monitoring. Moreover any case of misconduct reported should receive urgent attention from Road Traffic inspectors i.e. a maximum of two weeks to inquire and to sanction the drivers and conductors because of the old age and state of health of the passengers concerned. If procedures take very long time and are complex, as at present, then it will very often happen that old people will be discouraged from going ahead with their complaints or will be unable to turn up at any disciplinary committee of the N.T.A.

Alternatively I propose that a hotline service is made available at the N.T.A office for the public to register any complaints.

(2) So as to avoid hardships at the bus stops in terms of long waiting times, I propose that boards and notices be displayed at traffic centres, community centers and C.A.B offices for passengers to be fully informed about the timetables of buses. At present some notices and timetables appear in buses in very inconspicuous places and remain unnoticed by passengers

(3) The current practice is that many secondary school students proceed to private tuition after school hours, so they happen to catch the last or next to the last bus home. But with free bus fare, they will run the risk of not being taken on board especially after 18:00 hours. Road Traffic inspectors should be along routes and traffic centres after 18:00 hours for checks.

(4) For a better monitoring of the bus service, it is most urgent for the Road Traffic inspectors to be on duty on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. At present, despite repeated requests from the travelling public and the recommendations of the P.R.B no inspectors are on duty on the above mentioned days. The need is more felt along routes serviced by individual bus owners. A check along routes 9, 21, 62, 10, 17 will be an eye-opener to the authorities. There is a total non-observation of the timetables on these particular days, their motto being “maximum profit and minimum service”. The N.T.A being the body responsible for issuing licenses to operate buses has to play fully its role of regulatory and supervisory institution.

The implementation of these measures will drastically change the outlook and practice of the transport industry and will help to put passengers’ interests and welfare first.

<B>Raj BUJUN</B>