Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Sarah Jane Lebrasse
Published on 2024-04-03 15:00:55
The objective of the National Road Safety Strategy 2016-2023 was to reduce the number of deaths and injuries on the roads by at least 50%. Around ten intervention sectors had been identified to implement this strategy, requiring a disbursement of Rs 827.6 million. However, this plan did not yield the desired results as the country recorded 139 deaths in 2015 and 138 in 2023. It is also mentioned that the number of deaths on the roads was 108 in 2021 and the same number was noted in 2022.
In addition to this, Speed Cameras were of no use in controlling the speeding of motorcyclists. The Ministry of Transport, on the other hand, stated that the trend in terms of road casualties was reversed between 2010 and 2014.
As for free transportation, it is indicated that bus operators and Metro Express Ltd are compensated monthly at a fixed rate by the National Land Transport Authority (NLTA) for transporting passengers who have the right to travel for free. The NLTA made monthly payments, under the free travel program, ranging from Rs 27,500 to Rs 55,000 per bus for bus companies and individual bus operators, and Rs 229,500 per vehicle for the Metro-Express.
For the periods 2018-19 to 2022-23, a total amount of Rs 6.3 billion was disbursed. On August 17, 2016, the Ministry appointed a consultant to conduct a study aimed at reorganizing public transportation in Mauritius. During the 2016-17 period, an amount of Rs 12.8 million was paid to the consultant for assignments, including reviewing the free transportation aspect.
The consultant submitted his report in May 2017 and highlighted the following problems:
– The calculation of the free travel subsidy did not provide an accurate picture of the subsidy’s usage, and its distribution may not always be fair as the number of students and elderly people varies by route and location.
– Schools and colleges were disproportionately distributed among regions, affecting the number of students transported by bus operators. It is necessary to have a methodology that increases fairness and direct targeting of subsidies. The consultant recommended the use of a Cashless Ticketing System to better manage government expenses for free transportation.
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
