On Wednesday 11th May, 2016, a ground breaking ceremony was held at the Land Transport Authority office, a new office being built on the site of the one destroyed by fire a few years ago, at Vatunibale in Labasa.
The Authority has invested a significant amount of money to ensure that the new facility, which will consist of an administrative building and a technical ramp (for vehicle inspection) is constructed to benchmark international standards that will emanate positive vibes throughout.
Therefore, it has appointed engineering and architectural firm, Kramer Ausenco, which have extensive experience in project management in Fiji and the Pacific, as the project consultant for the construction of the new office and technical ramp in Vatunibale. Kramer Ausenco will complete the project within 12 months.
The Vatunibale office project involves the construction of the technical ramp on higher ground where the burnt administrative building was located, while the new administrative building will be constructed where the burnt technical ramp was located.
The re-location is part of a strategic move to eliminate the issue of water table flooding, which causes water to seep into the area where the burnt technical ramp was located. To ensure the water table flooding issue does not affect the new administrative building, the office will be constructed on a higher platform.
Once the new office is constructed, issues like lack of space will be a thing of the past, as the new office is well structured to cater for all the requirement of the Northern region. Adequate space will be allocated in all the sections to ensure that both LTA staff and customers can move around comfortably within the office.
The new technical ramp also has the provision for the implementation of the Fully Automated Vehicle Inspection System (FAMVIS), which is allocated for in the Bainimarama Government’s 2017 budget.
The FAMVIS setup, which is already operating at LTA offices in Valelevu and Lautoka will ensure the standards and compliance procedures of vehicles on Fiji’s roads are not compromised. It features full vehicle inspection capacity from brake test, headlight test, smoke, under carriage, engine diagnostic and other defects that are usually overlooked during manual checks. The FAMVIS will reduce customers’ waiting time and will require less or no intervention from people.
At the ground breaking, chief guest, Minister for Transport, Local Government, Urban Development, Housing & Environment, Honourable Parveen Kumar applauded the efforts of the Bainimarama Government and LTA management and staff for their leadership and vision in moving forward with this much-needed project.
Hon. Parveen Kumar said:
“We are not just breaking ground for a new LTA office building today. Following the unfortunate fire incidents of 2009 and 2014, the Bainimarama Government and LTA embarked on a mission to build a technically and environmentally sound and safe office that will emanate positive vibes throughout.
“I would like to congratulate the Bainimarama Government, and the management and staff of LTA on the achievement on today’s ceremony. Today’s ground breaking ceremony – and the official start of construction of the new and improved LTA office in Vatunibale – is the culmination of hard work on the part of the Bainimarama Government under its Look North Policy, and this demonstrates the strong commitment of the Bainimarama Government and LTA to its customers in the Northern region.
“LTA is committed to providing people-friendly environments to its customers and it will modify all its premises nationwide to meet ISO standards. Some of the offices which have been successfully modified to benchmark ISO Standards include Labasa town office, LTA office in Nakasi and LTA headquarters in Nasinu. Today, I can confirm that LTA offices in the Northern region in Nabouwalu, Seaqaqa, Savusavu and Taveuni will also be constructed to benchmark international standards.
“I am happy to announce today that in a bid to measure all customer services and reduce customer’s waiting time, LTA will install the Qmatic system (Queue Management System) in the current office in Vatunibale within the next few months. The Qmatic system is already operational in various LTA offices around the country.
“LTA, as part of the Bainimarama Government’s Look North Policy will also extend its services up to Dreketi and will start providing daily services in Nabouwalu soon.”
The ground breaking ceremony was witnessed by:
a.) LTA Board Member, Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho;
b.) LTA Chief Executive Officer, Mr Naisa Tuinaceva;
c.) LTA Executives, Management and Staff;
d.) Representatives from Kramer Ausenco;
e.) Commissioner Northern;
f.) DPC North;
g.) Various stakeholders from the transport industry;
h.) Business community in Labasa;
i.) Representatives from Labasa Town Council;
j.) Public and Media