FRA has utilised 86% of their budget as at the end of last month – Ro Filipe

The Fiji Roads Authority has utilised about 86 percent of their budget where $314 million from the budgeted amount of $362.9 million has been used.

This has been highlighted by the Minister for Public Works, Ro Filipe Tuisawau while responding to a question in parliament by Opposition MP Ioane Naivalurua on whether the infrastructure projects that were budgeted for the 2022-2023 financial year will be completed and what is the progress.

Ro Filipe says the FRA worked on a total of 88 projects of which 33 ranged from bridges, crossings, new jetty construction to road upgrade in three divisions.

He says from the remaining 55 FRA projects, 23 have been completed, 23 are ongoing and 9 have been cancelled.

Ro Filipe says the Public Sector Investment Program had requested in this financial year $437.3 million through a capital grant of which $165.5 million was for the transport infrastructure investment sector project and loan funded project however $362.9 million was approved.

He says the approved sum reduced the maintenance and renewals budget by $84.7 million in addition to no provision for emergency response works and it did not allow for $25 million spent on emergency works in the 2021-2022 financial year.

The Minister says rising inflation and cost of freight is also a major factor as contractors have sought compensation in this regard.

He further says Water Authority of Fiji has utilised 45 percent of their budget as at the end of March this year.

Ro Filipe says it is anticipated that 130 capital projects will be included in the next financial year.

While responding to a question by Opposition MP Vijay Nath on phase 2 of the Nakida Road Project and the Waisomosomo and Wairuarua Projects, Ro Filipe says this project is being done in conjunction with the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs and is about 80 percent complete.

He says they hope to commission it in the next 2 to 3 months.