Madam Speaker, I am informed by the National Land Transport Authority that buses plying along Routes 187 and 178 serve the regions of Melle Jeanne, Madame Azor, Melville, and Poudre D’Or Village. Accordingly, a shuttle service is currently being provided by one individual bus operator along Route 187, that is, from Melle Jeanne to Goodlands and back from 6 o’clock in the morning to 6 o’clock in the afternoon at an interval of 30 minutes during peak time and one hour during off-peak time. As regards Route 178, that is, Melville to Goodlands via Madame Azor with extension to Poudre D’Or, there are six individual bus operators licensed to operate thereat. However, two of these buses have been off-road for approximately three months now due to serious breakdowns, and this could be the source of prompting this Parliamentary Question from the hon. Beejan. However, I have to stress that the remaining four buses are presently operating at an average interval of 30 minutes from 6 o’clock in the morning to 6 o’clock in the afternoon. Madam Speaker, with a view to alleviating the hardship of commuters in these regions, a shuttle service has recently been introduced, and same is being provided by a 32-seater bus from the National Transport Corporation from Madame Azor to Goodlands between 6 o’clock in the morning and 6 o’clock in the evening during weekdays only. I am also informed that a temporary Road Service Licence has been granted to an individual bus operator in accordance with section 77 D of the Road Traffic Act since 19 September 2024 to increase the fleet of buses along Route 178 and same should be implemented before the end of this month. So, this should somehow bring some relief. It is believed that this will address the level of service. But still, I would request the hon. Member to follow-up and update me in due course. So, I rely on hon. Beejan for feedback if this is not working at the end of this month. Thank you.

Yes!

Could the Minister inform the House whether consideration will be given for officers to effect regular surprise checks so as to ensure that there is no abuse by transport operators in the region of Melle Jeanne, Melville, Madame Azor and Poudre D’Or Village?

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Madam Speaker, I can certainly ask the National Land Transport Authority inspectorate to maintain regular checks and to see whether the situation is okay.

Thank you, hon. Minister. Yes, hon. Second Member for Vieux Grand Port and Rose Belle. CYCLONE BELAL – DAMAGED MOTOR VEHICLES – COMPENSATION