Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, Constituency No. 9, Flacq-Bon Accueil, spans over a reasonably wide geographical area. It comprises several villages and residential zones with Central Flacq serving as the principle socio-economic hub. I am informed by the NLTA that the constituency benefits from an extensive bus service network of 37 routes. Public transport services in the constituency are mainly provided by individually-owned buses, operating under Bus Owners Cooperative Society Limited, along some 34 routes as well as by the NTC on Route 56, the Triolet Bus Service on Route 29, and Divla Ltd on Route 240. These 37 routes may be broadly grouped as follows – • 6 routes serving the North, which include regions such as Goodlands, Grand Baie and Rivière du Rempart; • 7 routes serving the region of Port Louis; • 9 routes serving the regions such as Curepipe, Rose Hill and surrounding areas; • 8 routes serving the eastern coastal belt, including regions such as Belle Mare, Palmar, Trou d’Eau Douce and Poste Lafayette; • 5 routes serving as local and circular routes within the outskirts of Central Flacq. In view of the extensive nature of this network, I am tabling the full list of bus routes to and from Constituency No. 9. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am further informed by the NLTA that it has received representations from inhabitants of some localities on poor bus services. Following an assessment, it has been observed that the issue at hand is not so much the absence of routes, but rather the adequacy, frequency and the financial viability of services on certain existing routes. The routes identified by the NLTA having inadequate services are – (a) Route 218 (the description is in the list); (b) Route 55A, and (c) Route 54. Services along these three routes are provided by buses of other routes on a roster basis under the trip-based payment under a contract between the NLTA and Flacq Bus Owners Cooperative Society Ltd. It is worth underlining that previously, twice buses were licensed along route 218 and two buses were also granted licences for route 55A. All these buses could not continue providing services along these routes as they were uneconomical. The operators were bound to seek transfer of their licences to other routes. The grant of licences along these routes will therefore not solve the transport problems of residents of those regions, as after a period of time, the new operators will not be able to sustain the services. The better solution, according to the NLTA, would be to increase substantially the number of paid trips being provided under the contracts with the cooperative society both during week days and weekends. This arrangement, hopefully, will better meet the needs of commuters and although it may be costly, the more so, as the Flacq Bus Owners Cooperative Society Ltd is requesting for a substantial increase in the rate of payment per trip. The NLTA has also informed that Constituency No. 9 has a total of 686 taxi cars licensed to operate from 77 bases of operation, besides the 333 taxis licensed at hotels. Therefore, a total of 1,019 taxis, out of 7,803 which is a total of 13%, the highest among all the 20 Constituencies. Mr Anil Bachoo will surely agree with me. These taxi cars mostly operate as “taxi train” known as separate pairs and complement transport needs along corridors which bus services are either not operational or the services are inadequate. To end, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as part of my broader approach to closely monitor public transport issues across all constituencies, I shall shortly, as discussed, convene a meeting with the hon. Members of elected for Constituency No. 9 to discuss the matters in detail. I wish to underline that similar exercises have been carried out in other Constituencies since my becoming Minister of Land Transport and have proven to be constructive in addressing ground-level concerns. Thank you.

Yes, hon. Member!

Yes, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. Will the hon. Minister urge the NLTA to carry out a thorough investigation that will include checking whether annual revenue returns are being done by current taxi operators at the MRA in order to track and if needed, cancel the PSV licences of those taxis which are inoperational today and allocate them to people who are willing to offer the service.

I definitely welcome this question, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, but I think, this problem is a chronic problem around the country. Taxi drivers are supposed to provide taxi services but they don't adequately do so.

The hon. First Member for Montagne Blanche & Grand River South East! OVERSEAS MEDICAL TREATMENT – BENEFICIARIES (JANUARY 2021 TO DECEMBER 2025) – NATIONAL MEASURES