Bus industry is providing discounts to certain privileged groups and this must be reviewed - Lal

The bus industry is the only industry providing discounts to certain privileged groups and this must be reviewed.

Those are the words of Fiji Bus Operators Association President Richard Lal while speaking at the Association's Annual General Meeting and Annual Convention at Novotel in Lami.

Lal says the bus industry estimates that these discounts cost the industry about $20 million per year.

Lal says the bus industry must be recognised as a commercial undertaking like any other business in Fiji and assistance must be provided only to the needy by social welfare.

He says the bus industry plays a key role in the economy and contributes towards the GDP and in Fiji’s development as a nation.

The Fiji Bus Operators Association currently has 52 members.

Lal says from the data available the average monthly transactions and trips consist of over 6 million full fare paying adult customers, 406,000 over 60 years paying 50 percent fare, 71,000 disposable cards, 50,000 Exempt Disabled travelling free, 500,00 Adult students non subsidised paying 50% fare, 250,000 student child non-subsidised at 50% fare, 1,042,000 subsidised adult student at 50% fare and 733,434 subsidised child student at 50% fare.

He says he bus industry wants this to be reviewed as the current arrangement is not achieving the desired results in assisting the needy.