THE Honiara City Council (HCC) will crack down on all short bus routes effective as of tomorrow (Monday 23rd).
According to a media report, City mayor Eddie Siapu revealed that measures were developed following concerns relating to short bus routes, irregular bus services, unregulated fares and poor bus conditions have expressed by residents and travelling public.
“The Honiara City is serious about addressing these concerns. My government is taking measures to address these concerns both in the immediate term, short term and long term,” he said.
He said as of Monday, HCC will join forces with Traffic Department of the Royal Solomon Islands Police to monitor all buses serving routes in Honiara. HCC will revoke business license of any bus doing short routes.
HCC office is now appealing to members of the public to report any public bus applying short routes.
HCC is submitting a request to the Road Transport Authority based in the Ministry of Infrastructure Development.
The submission will request the Road Transport Board to review and regulate bus fares, bus route and conditions of public buses in Honiara.
He said HCC will request Road Transport Board to regulate that bus fares in Honiara is SBD5.00 for adults and SBD3.00 for students and children.
In the long term, HCC has completed a survey on bus services in Honiara. HCC is now setting up a committee to conduct further consultations and studies into public bus service in Honiara. HCC is also looking at the viability of operating public bus services serving the main routes within Honiara City.
Siapu said the council is also enacting public bus service ordinance to regulate the industry within Honiara City. I appeal for understanding and patience from the general public in this matter as HCC continues to work on ensuring having proper regulated public bus service.
On the same note requests support and cooperation of bus operators to stop short bus routes and charging of excessive fares, Siapu said.
He said if bus operators, do not listen to HCC, they will venture into operating bus service in Honiara and cancel all public bus licenses.
“So let us work together to provide a reliable, affordable, safe and viable public bus service on Honiara City,” he said.
By FOLLET JOHN
Solomon Star, Newsroom
