Khalsa Road potholes opening up every few weeks after road works, residents and drivers demand lasting solutions

Residents and drivers continue to raise concerns about the potholes along Khalsa Road in Tacirua opening every few weeks, and they are now asking for lasting solutions.

Questions are also being raised on the amount of funds being wasted on the same road works over and over again, and who is monitoring the workmanship of the Fiji Roads Authority contractors as millions of dollars are going into the roads budget.

fijivillage News has received numerous complaints over the past few weeks regarding the road condition which has multiple potholes that is damaging vehicles and can also cause accidents.

Some residents have also raised that contractors are doing road works during rainy weather and are questioning how such efforts can effectively resolve the problem. They also highlighted that underground pipe leaks might be contributing to the issue.

While responding to our questions on what is being done to solve the issue, the Fiji Roads Authority says they are looking to enhance the drainage systems, installation of new culverts and additional reticulation works.

They say these upgrades are aimed at addressing the underlying causes of the recurring road damage and ensuring that the road remains serviceable for the long term.

Meanwhile, the Water Authority of Fiji has refuted the claims that underground pipe leaks are causing the recurring potholes, instead its the poor drainage systems and stormwater runoff from nearby squatter settlements.

When the issue was raised during fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad said he would look into the issue of Khalsa Road.

Professor Prasad says he is not providing any excuses but the intensity and the frequency of rain causing floods in some areas cause road damages. He further says that in some areas, it’s just poor workmanship and lack of efficiency.

He says FRA has a competent Chair where a lot of roads around Fiji have been fixed and he hopes the Chair will take this into account.

The Deputy Prime Minister adds that when the Public Works Department gets running properly, a lot of rural roads could be fixed too, as people deserve better roads.