Africa-Press – Mauritius. Two bus companies, namely the Moka Flacq Bus Owners Cooperative Society and RHT Bus Services Ltd, have started, this morning, to operate inside the Victoria Urban Terminal (VUT), in Port-Louis.
The Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Alan Ganoo, the Minister of National Infrastructure and Community Development, Mr Mahendranuth Sharma Hurreeram, and the promoters of the VUT were present on that occasion.
In the first instance, buses operated by these two companies will only disembark commuters at the VUT and, as from 02 April 2022, commuters will be able to board directly from the Terminal for their onward destinations.
The bus routes currently being serviced by the two bus companies to disembark commuters at the VUT are for Moka: 93 – Camp Thorel, 113 – Camp de Masque, 12 – Sebastopol, 103 – Nouvelle Découverte, 135 – Vuillemin; and for RHT: 1 – Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, 174 – Express, 1A – St Patrick, 145 – Trèfles, 1B – Vandermech.
In a statement, Minister Ganoo highlighted that today marks an important date as certain bus operators have started to alight at the VUT for the first time.
For him, what is even more significant is that with the introduction of the light rail in Mauritius, guided by the vision of the Prime Minister and support of the Indian Government, the Metro will bring additional development on the economic front, in particular, in urban regions where the main Terminals will be set up.
The Minister also lauded the partnership between the Government and the private sector for the realisation of the VUT project. He expressed satisfaction that works are progressing smoothly and that after nearly two years the VUT has become a reality.
Mr Ganoo remarked that, presently, construction works at the VUT are nearing completion and the Terminal will offer a multitude of services and is connected, via an aerial footbridge, with the Port-Louis Metro Express Station at Caudan.
With the light rail, urban spaces have undergone a transformation but, equally along with the private sector, there are other developments that are unfolding to bring more prosperity in Mauritius, he indicated.
The VUT, which has required major investments and is expected to boost job creation, has similarly revived the city of Port-Louis, he added. For his part, Minister Hurreeram extended his appreciation to the promoters of VUT for presenting the country with a gem.
Today, he pointed out, the first buses have started their operations at the VUT and this demonstrates that everything is made possible if all partners, that is, Government, the private sector and the public, work together.
Despite the COVID-19, other challenges and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Mauritius is continuing to forge ahead through an informed leadership for the interest of the population, he emphasised.
According to him, the VUT, a first-of-its-kind project in Mauritius, is an example for all other Terminals that will be implemented across the country and constitutes a fine illustration of public-private partnership.
The Minister likewise observed that, with the COVID-19, the workforce for the VUT project has practically been 100% Mauritian. Mr Hurreeram thus lauded all stakeholders including the workers, the promoters and the contractor for the project.
A soft launch of the retail segment of the VUT is scheduled for 01 April 2022. This launch concerns some 20 retailers who have set up their stores on the ground floor of the VUT.
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