The Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) acknowledges the recent concerns raised by the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) regarding the issue of unauthorized parking within Honiara City, particularly at the Central Market bus stop and along key roadways.
“We appreciate the Chamber’s emphasis on the need for a sustainable solution to enhance public safety and improve business logistics.
“We share their concern that prolonged bus bay parking and roadside parking pose significant threats to public safety and exacerbate frustration for businesses reliant on efficient transportation,” a statement from MID’s Transport Infrastructure Management Services Department (TIMSD) said.
In response to these concerns, MID team has been actively working on implementing measures to curb unregulated roadside parking in Honiara.
As part of the new Land and Maritime Connectivity Project’s (LMCP) road design, they have raised road-side kerbs at key locations, including the Central Market bus stop, to discourage vehicles from parking on the roadside.
This physical barrier is designed to improve traffic flow and enhance road safety.
Furthermore, with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), they have secured Technical Assistance (TA) on ‘Capacity Improvement of Urban Transport Management in Honiara’.
This project includes a comprehensive review of bus operations and parking management within the city. Important stakeholders like Honiara City Council, G Province, Police, were part of this TA cooperation in addressing some of these issues highlighted.
The statement re-emphasized “Our goal is to create a safer and more efficient urban transportation system for all residents.
“We believe that this initiative will result in the development of a comprehensive policy framework that will address parking regulations and bus operations throughout Honiara City.
“We anticipate that the completion of this project will provide a sustainable solution for regulating parking and optimizing bus services,” it stated.
MID is committed to improving the efficiency and functionality of Honiara’s transportation infrastructure and looks forward to working with all stakeholders, including business owners, community groups, and government agencies, to address this critical issue.
- MID
Photo Caption: Drone shot of Honiara’s Central Market and surrounding establishments. Photo credit CPIU
