Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho directed Traffic Police Officers in the last hour to take urgent action and remove a truck that broke down on the main highway near the Lami Village crossing at about 7 this morning.
Traffic in Lami around 7 this morning
More than 5 hours later, the truck was still sitting on the Queens Highway that caused a huge traffic jam affecting thousands of workers and students this morning, and then the problem continued for many people even after the rush hour.
Traffic at Walu Bay near Korovou Prison as at 12:08PM
Qiliho says under the Land Transport Authority Act, Police have the powers to remove the vehicles from the road and the owner can foot the bill.
When contacted by Fijivillage, the Commissioner who is currently in the Northern Division, says he is seriously concerned about this and he will immediately tell the officers to take action.
Traffic from Lami Village to Korovou Prison as at 12:20PM
Qiliho said in the last hour to us that he will also speak to the Director of Traffic on why the officers concerned did not take urgent action and he will also look at the issue of neglect of duty.
Lami Police said from 9am that they did not have the manpower to remove the truck and they were waiting for the tow truck to remove the vehicle.
Traffic at Delainavesi as at 12:25PM
Fulton Hogan employee Gyanendra Prasad who left Samabula at 8am for Lami was stuck in traffic for more than three hours.
The traffic was backed up to Reservoir Road and Walu Bay from the Suva end.
On the Lami end, the traffic was backed up right past Kalekana.
The truck is owned by Quick Shift Transport.
A spokesperson for the company, Junior Ali says they made arrangements for a small tow truck at 9 this morning and it could not lift the truck which is 10 to 15 tonnes.
Ali says they sent another truck to help move the truck to the bus stop but the problem is that all the wheels in the broken down truck are locked.
He says they sent a bigger tow truck and it was also stuck in traffic causing a 5 and half hour delay.
The truck being towed away at 12:40PM
The truck was towed away at 12.40pm.
