Republic of Mauritius- New Piton Traffic centre to improve traffic fluidity

The Minister Mentor, Minister of Defence, Minister for Rodrigues, Sir Anerood Jugnauth; the Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Nandcoomar Bodha; the Deputy Whip, Mr Satyaprakashsing Rutnah; the Parliamentary Private Secretary, Mr Sharvanand Ramkaun and other personalities were present.

The new traffic centre, located next to Piton State Secondary School and the Mauritius Institute of Training and Development extends over an area of 4371m2. It aims at improving the fluidity of traffic on our roads, providing a modern safe efficient land transport system for mobility of people and at the same time, reducing the number and severity of accidents. The centre comprises of five alighting and boarding platforms, ten shelters, two stand regulators cabins, five taxi slots including one taxi drivers’ shelter, toilet blocks, a store, six shops and one Police post. 

In his address, Prime Minister Jugnauth said that the new traffic centre is one amongst the several infrastructural development projects that Government has undertaken in view to provide modern and improved services to the citizens as well as to enhance their standard of living and quality of life. To that effect, he listed out some projects that Government has implemented and is being carried out in the region, namely: a new village hall; a NHDC complex; a volleyball pitch, lighting of the football ground; and upgrading of road from Piton to Mapou. He also mentioned that drains projects in Piton estimated around Rs 50 million will start very soon.

He recalled that formerly the bus stop constituted a hazard for school children as well as a hindrance to the rapid exit of Piton Fire Station as it was located opposite Piton Government School and Fire Station. The buses could not safely alight and embark passengers which caused a slowdown in traffic flow, he added. The new traffic centre, he said, will therefore, be very useful with its modern infrastructure and services and will provide a permanent solution to the inconveniences faced by the inhabitants of the locality as well as those of the neighbouring regions.

Prime Minister Jugnauth reiterated Government’s firm resolute to develop, upgrade and enhance the infrastructures across the country for the welfare of the citizens. To this regard, he indicated that Government has presently disbursed someRs 750 million for the year 2018-2019 for the construction and maintenance of drains. Speaking about the northern region, he said that drain projects are being carried out at Plaine des Papayes, Belle VueMaurel, L’amitié, Gokula, and Rivière du Rempart adding that drain works will start shortly at Cottage. As for constituencies 6,7 and 8, some Rs 195 million has been spent for drain works, he added.

With regard to water supply, the Prime Minister said that Government has disbursed around Rs 500 million for the replacement of old water pipes in order to ensure smooth supply of water to the inhabitants of Rivière du Rempart and Plaine des Roches. He indicated that 90% of works have been completed and that the inhabitants will have access to water on a 24/7 basis by June 2019. Concerning projects in Rodrigues and Agalega, he mentioned that a new runway is in the pipeline.

As for Minister Bodha, he elaborated on the several road and infrastructural development works which are being implemented to reduce accidents on our roads as well as provide citizens with modern and sophisticated infrastructure. He also made an appeal to each and everyone to preserve and maintain cleanliness at the new traffic centre and ensure that it remains in a good state for everyone to benefit from it in the future.

For their part, Deputy Whip Rutnah and Parliamentary Private Secretary Ramkaun dwelt on the major developments in the country and reiterated Government willingness to modernise the country. 195 projects to the tune of Rs 450 million have been completed. They comprise amongst others drains projects; sports infrastructures; and children playgrounds. Additionally, some 495 projects to a total cost of Rs 994 million are being presentlycarried out by the National Development Unit.