Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, proceeded with the launch of twenty semi low-floor buses of the National Transport Corporation (NTC), to the tune of Rs 75 million, this evening at the Trianon Convention Center.
The Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Alan Ganoo, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Mauritius, Mr Liying Zhu, the General Manager of the NTC, Mr Rao Ramah and other personalities were also present.
In his address, Prime Minister Jugnauth indicated that the 50-seater buses are environment friendly and consume less fuel. He underlined that the acquisition of new buses in the future will no doubt reduce pollution and the use of carbon in line with Government’s engagement to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030.
He called on bus operators to renew their bus fleet in view to help the country uphold its engagement to reduce gas emissions. On the occasion, the Prime Minister saluted the contribution, devotion and commitment of the staff of the NTC in providing efficient transport service to commuters.
He underppinned that the use of electric bus will enable the NTC to be more ecological, and transform the public transport system as well as pave the way for a modern, safer and sustainable transport system.
The Prime Minister shed light on the impacts of the COVID-19 on the economy while highlighting that Government has invested massively to support all the sectors, in particular workers through the Wage Assistance Scheme and the Self-employed Assistance Scheme.
The sectors are now bouncing back with the collaboration of the Government, private partners and each and every one, he pointed out. Prime Minister Jugnauth further underlined that the NTC, as part of its fleet renewal plan, will replace some 200 buses, by shifting from conventional diesel-powered buses to electric vehicles.
He recalled that last budget made provision of Rs 75 million for the acquisition of new the buses by the NTC. Speaking on the Metro Express, he reassured bus operators that the bus transport system will always play a pivotal role in the transport system of the country.
Prime Minister Jugnauth also indicated that Government is providing several measures for bus operators through the Industrial Finance Corporation Ltd and called on bus operators to benefit from same to modernise their transport system.
For his part, Minister Ganoo stated that the NTC has taken another step to modernise the transport sector in Mauritius and provide better service to passengers. He lauded the staff and the NTC for the good work they are doing in the transport sector.
He underlined that the NTC plays an important role in improving the mobility of people around the island, through the provision of profitable as well as social routes transport.
The NTC is the largest bus company in Mauritius, with an operational fleet of some 500 buses and operating on 100 routes with a manpower of 2,300 employees, he underscored. He enumerated several measures being implemented to improve the public transport services.
They include: the upgrading of NTC’s Electronic Ticketing Machine system; improvement of NTC’s mechanism for recording passenger complaints; and the fleet management system. As for Mr Ramah, he announced that the People’s Republic of China will donate to the NTC five new 50-seater electric buses.
He expressed his gratitude to the People’s Republic of China as this will allow the NTC to test the operational capability and reliability of electric bus and to acquire knowledge on the driving skill requirement. He also expressed his thanks to the Government for allocating the finance to buy the new buses and its continued support.
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