Madam Speaker, I am informed by the National Land Transport Authority (NLTA) that a regular bus service does exist at the New Flacq Hospital to service the approximate 870 visitors calling thereat daily. Currently, individual bus

58 operators licensed to operate along bus routes 176, 112, and 232 are performing some 36 trips on a daily basis at an average interval of 30 to 40 minutes, starting from 4.45 hrs in the morning up until 19.00 hrs. Furthermore, since the operation of the New Flacq Hospital in August this year, the NLTA has extended the itinerary of buses plying along routes 15, 16, and 17, and as such, six additional trips are performed along the said routes to the hospital daily. Madam Speaker, moreover, the 32-seater buses of the NTC provide shuttle service from the hospital to Central Flacq whereby some 18 trips are carried out from 6 o’clock in the morning up until 18.00 hrs. Additionally, some 159 taxis based in and around neighbouring localities, along with those 30 taxis based at the New Flacq Hospital, provide shuttle service to and fro from the hospital throughout the day. As the New Flacq Hospital has recently been made operational, there are inevitably some teething issues with regard to the public transport which still need to be addressed. In this context, the NLTA has been requested by myself to extend the services of buses operating along Routes 18, 56, 55 and 194, which ply through the regions of Montagne Blanche and Grande Rivière Sud Est to enable the inhabitants thereat to easily access the New Flacq Hospital. Madam Speaker, following this Parliamentary Question, I have also requested the NLTA to effect a site visit to assess the level of service at the New Flacq Hospital, and I stand informed that no issues have been observed as regards the level of bus service at the New Flacq Hospital. I further stand guided by the regulator that initially complaints had been received at its level regarding the fact that passengers were alighting and boarding buses in a haphazard manner outside the newly constructed traffic centre situated adjacent to the hospital, and this constituted a road safety hazard. In this context, following instructions from the NLTA, the individual bus operators are alighting and collecting passengers from the traffic centre. On the other hand, the Traffic Management and Road Safety Unit has already placed appropriate traffic signs thereat to deter buses from stopping along that main road, while the Police have been informed that regular patrols are being ensured thereat.

59 Madam Speaker, to end, I am informed that my colleague, the Minister of Health and Wellness, will be holding a site visit tomorrow with all relevant stakeholders, including representatives from my Ministry to look into the issues raised in this Parliamentary Question as well as to look at ways and means to further facilitate bus users going in and out of the hospital. I am also informed that two site visits have already been conducted by the Director of Health Services along with representatives of my Ministry. We remain open to the recommendations of this committee led by my colleague, the Minister of Health, like I just said, also a former Minister of Land Transport and who is very familiar with the domain. Thank you.

Thank you, hon. Minister. Hon. Third Member for Port Louis North and Montagne Longue, Mr Caserne! VALLÉE DES PRÊTRES, MORCELLEMENT RAMLAGUN – DRAINS CONSTRUCTION & FLOOD MITIGATION MEASURES