Reply: Route 178 runs between Melville to Mme Azor and 6 buses are licensed to operate along this route. The problems encountered by commuters along this route were previously raised in PQ B/560 in June 2025. As I highlighted in the reply to that Parliamentary Question, the road infrastructure along the route was quite narrow and it only allows smaller buses up to 42 seaters to be operated along the route. This is a major impediment preventing the redeployment of buses, from other routes (where most of the buses are 60-seaters) to route 178. The Ministry had a meeting with Village Councillors and some residents of Melville on 20 June 2025. The TBS Ltd and other operators in the north were requested to explore the possibility to have additional buses to supplement the service along that route. None of the operators has buses of the required size. According to information received from the NLTA, out of the six buses licensed for the route, five are providing a regular service. One bus has been off the road since December 2024. Its replacement is expected by November 2025. The NTC has deployed a shuttle service between Mme Azor and Goodlands to relieve the transport situation to some extent.

141 Following the extension of the bus service along route 178 from Belmont to Poudre d’Or on 13 July 2024 (over a distance of 6 kms), the running time of buses has increased along the route causing the frequency of operation to be longer and impacting adversely on the problem of residents of Melville. The NLTA is envisaging the licensing of two additional buses along route 178. POLICE STATION COMPOUNDS – ABANDONED/UNUSED/SEIZED VEHICLES – ENVISAGED MEASURES (No. A/3) Mr N. Beejan (Second Member Grand’ Baie & Poudre d’Or) asked the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications, Minister of Finance, Minister for Rodrigues and Outer Islands whether, in regard to abandoned/seized/unused vehicles lying in the compounds of Line Barracks, SMF Complex in Vacoas, Divisional Headquarters and Police Stations, he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain from the Commissioner of Police, information as to whether he has been aware of the number thereof and the inconveniences being caused as a result thereof and, if so, indicate the measures being envisaged to address this situation – Reply: A total of 484 vehicles, including motorcycles, are presently lying in the compounds of Line Barracks, the SMF Complex in Vacoas, Divisional Headquarters, and various Police Stations across the island. The details are as hereunder – Compounds Abandoned Seized Unused Total Line Barracks Nil 83 72 155 SMF Complex, Vacoas Nil Nil 2 2 Divisional Headquarters 2 7 Nil 9 Police Stations around the Island 180 118 20 318 Total 182 208 94 484

142 These vehicles have either been involved in road accidents, secured as exhibits in criminal or drug-related cases, abandoned in public places, or are police vehicles beyond economical repair. While these 484 vehicles cause certain inconveniences within the respective compounds, necessary actions are being taken to remove them to a secured location at Fort George. During previous exercises, a total of 560 vehicles have already been transferred to Fort George. These vehicles are securely kept thereat, pending disposal or return to their respective owners, where applicable. The overall process of removing and disposing of these vehicles is inherently time- consuming due to the distinct procedures applicable to each category. Abandoned vehicles require identification, inspection, and multiple notifications to owners before any action can be taken. Seized vehicles are retained as exhibits pending the completion of investigations or court proceedings, which can extend over long periods. In the case of unused vehicles, disposal can only proceed following assessments by mechanical engineers, completion of board of survey reports, and subsequent auction procedures. These administrative and legal requirements contribute to the gradual pace at which the situation is being addressed. DARUTY & VALE JUNCTION – TRAFFIC CONGESTION – SURVEY & MEASURES (No. A/4) Mr N. Beejan (Second Member for Grand’ Baie & Poudre D'or) asked the Minister of National Infrastructure whether, in regard to junction Daruty and Vale, he will state if a survey has been carried out to assess the traffic congestion occurring thereat between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and, if so, indicate the – (a) findings thereof, and (b) remedial actions being envisaged in relation thereto. Reply: The junction of Mapou-Goodlands Road (A5 Road) and Vale Road (B12 Road) is a signalised T-junction. With regard to part (a) of the question, I am informed that a survey conducted by the Traffic Management and Road Safety Unit (TMRSU) has revealed that during peak hours, there is a high volume of traffic coming from A5 Road and Goodlands Bypass (A13 Road) wishing to right turn to accede onto B12 Road. As such, the vehicles have to wait for a safe gap to perform this right turning movement or for vehicles coming from Motorway M2 to provide the right of way, as a courtesy, for vehicles on A5 to right turn onto B12 Road. In

143 doing so, traffic queues quickly build up. This high volume of right turning traffic movement during peak hours is the primary cause of queueing at this signalised T-junction. As regards part (b) of the question, I am informed by the TMRSU that as an immediate measure, it has provided an early cut-off for the traffic signal for the leg coming from Motorway M2, that is, stopping the vehicles along this leg and simultaneously increasing the green time for the traffic signal phasing along A5 Road, to cater for the high volume of right turning traffic movement. This measure is intended to give the high volume of right-turning vehicles on A5 Road more time to clear the intersection and thus provide immediate relief for the queue build-up. I am further informed that, as a short-term solution, the TMRSU has worked out the following options, for implementation by the Road Development Authority (RDA) – (i) Providing a dedicated right turning lane along A5 Road for traffic right-turning onto B12 Road as well as the provision of left turning slip lanes, to reduce queueing by segregating turning traffic and through traffic. (ii) Construction of a new link road from the existing roundabout at junction of A5 Road and A13 (Goodlands Bypass) Road up to the B12 Road, passing next to Daruty Cemetery. This measure is expected to reduce traffic volume at the signalised junction of A5/B12 by diverting traffic from Daruty to Petit Raffray/Goodlands and vice-versa. I am informed by the RDA that as per the design submitted by the TMRSU for the provision of a slip lane from Mapou-Goodlands Road, A5 towards Vale Road, B12, land is to be acquired from Societe Rouillard. The land acquisition process has already been initiated and is currently ongoing. The RDA intends to implement the project as soon as land acquisition procedures would be completed and financial clearance obtained from the Ministry of Finance. FORBACH ROAD, FOND DU SAC – BUILDING CONSTRUCTION DETAILS (No. A/5) Mr N. Beejan (Second Member for Grand’ Baie &Poudre d'Or) asked the Minister of Local Government whether, in regard to a building constructed by the District Council of Pamplemousses at Forbach Road, Fond du Sac, he will state the – (a) total cost of construction thereof, indicating the initial estimated cost and final cost thereof; (b) date of completion thereof, and

144 (c) reasons why the building is not yet operational. Reply: The District Council of Pamplemousses had initiated the construction of a building to be used as a hall in 2018/19. The building was of an extent of 213 m² consisting of the ground floor only. The project was implemented into two phases, namely – (i) Phase I - Construction of grey building only, and (ii) Phase II - Completion of the finishing works. The project value was set at Rs2.6 million for the setting up of the grey building only. However, the actual cost amounted to Rs2,719,500 due to the addition of two concrete steps, which was not initially included in the scope of works. This addition represented a variation of 4.5% of the original estimate. The works started on 01 August 2019 and was completed on 20 April 2020. The implementation of the finishing works was to be carried out partly through contracting-out of the works relating to, but not limited, to tiling, plumbing, drainage, sewerage, while the painting works would be done by the in-house labour. The cost estimates thereto amounted to Rs700,000. However, these works were completed within a total cost of Rs696,350. The works started on 11 March 2020 and were completed on 25 June 2020. As regards the works to be completed by the in-house labour of the Council, these, as mentioned above, are related to painting of the building. However, due to the restrictions which were prevailing in the country up to 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the painting works could not be completed. During the Financial Year 2023/24, minor works were carried on site with a view of inaugurating the building. However, the District Council of Pamplemousses could not proceed with the works in 2024/25 due to financial constraints and the deployment of in- house labour to other priority works on other sites. The Council is presently undertaking painting works at the building at Forbach by in- house labour. Once the works are completed, the District Council of Pamplemousses will carry out some upgrading and maintenance works on the adjoining infrastructures, namely the renovation of the mini-soccer pitch, the children’s playground, the pétanque courts and the volleyball pitch. The inauguration of the building is planned in February 2026, once all these renovation works are completed.

145 MAURITIUS TOURISM AUTHORITY – PLEASURE CRAFT LICENCES – LICENCE HOLDERS & DATE OF ISSUE (No. A/6) Mr N. Beejan (Second Member for Grand’ Baie & Poudre d’Or) asked the Minister of Tourism whether, in regard to commercial pleasure craft licences, he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain from the Mauritius Tourism Authority, information as to the number thereof issued during the period 2015 to 2024 for the coastal belt of Mont-Choisy to Poudre d’Or, indicating, in each case the name of the licence holder and date of issue thereof. Reply: For period 2015-2024, the Mauritius Tourism Authority has issued a total of 186 commercial pleasure craft licences for the coastal belt of Mont-Choisy to Poudre d’Or as follows – Year No. of Licences issued 2015 18 2016 17 2017 23 2018 13 2019 11 2020 14 2021 14 2022 13 2023 29 2024 34 Total 186 The list of licence holders with corresponding date of issue of each licence is being placed in the Library of the National Assembly.