The Land Transport Authority is
reminding bus operators that it is mandatory
to provide bus services according to the time table, and to also ensure their
buses stop at designated bus stops and bus stations that fall under their
route, as this is a regulatory requirement.
The call comes after the Authority received complaints from some commuters who
are based in the Central Eastern and Western region that certain bus operators
are not complying with the conditions of their Public Service Vehicle (PSV)
Permit.
Non Adherence to Bus Timetable
LTA Chief Executive Officer, Mr Naisa Tuinaceva said:
“The Authority acknowledges the fact that at times, there may be some delay in
service delivery due to genuine issues such as heavy traffic and road
accidents. However, the bus operators are already aware and this is our
reminder to them that it is mandatory for them to honour the conditions outlined
in their Permit. We will not hesitate to take those bus operators to task who
habitually fail to provide the service they signed up for.”
Non-compliance of the PSV Permit occurs when bus operators:
a). Do not complete their trips;
b). Provide irregular service; or
c). Their buses arrive at a particular stop or destination late/ahead of the
scheduled time of arrival.
When LTA receives such complaints from the travelling public, it conducts an investigation
into the matter, and if a bus operator is found to have repeatedly failed to
provide bus service on time as per the time table, the following actions are
taken by LTA:
a). the bus operator is issued a Traffic Infringement Notice (TIN) and a warning
letter.
In the worst case scenario,
b). the bus operator’s case is referred to the LTA Show Cause Disciplinary
Hearing and is escalated to the LTA Board, which deliberates further on whether
the bus operator’s Permit must be suspended or terminated.
Failure to Stop The Bus At Designated
Stops
LTA has also been made aware of cases whereby some bus operators who
are serving the express route have failed to stop their bus at a designated
stop along their route claiming that none of their passengers sitting inside
the bus were getting off at that particular stop.
Again, the Authority is reminding bus operators that buses must stop at the
designated stops if it is an express bus, as it is in the regulated timetable,
which must be followed at all times.
Mr Tuinaceva said: “There should be no excuses – they’ve got the Permit, so
they must provide the service.”
LTA is urging the public to report such matters to LTA Call Centre via free
text to 582 or on email infor@lta.com.fj.