(CNS): The Ministry of Infrastructure said it is working on regulations that will give the Public Transport Unit (PTU) the power to enforce the law. There has been a growing number of complaints about the unreliability of public bus services and the conduct of some operators, and Cabinet recently quashed an effort by bus operators to increase fares. However, officials are now warning that new rules will enhance oversight and enforcement, including a new administrative penalties framework.
The government said in a release that it was taking the conduct of drivers seriously because public transport “is an essential service, and commuters are entitled to expect consistent routes, reliable service, and professional conduct”.
Consequently, the PTU, under the direction of the Public Transport Board, is actively monitoring operations across the system. Operators are obligated under the Traffic (Public Passenger Vehicles) Regulations to adhere to approved routes, maintain a scheduled service, and behave appropriately while providing public transport services.
Where breaches are identified, the Public Transport Board will take appropriate enforcement action.
The Public Transport (Amendment & Validation) Bill will be brought before Parliament on 29 April with the regulations currently in development. These will pave the way for a better enforcement and allow the unit to issue tickets for defined offences, the release said.
“Together with broader regulatory improvements, this will strengthen accountability and improve the safety, reliability, and overall quality of public bus services,” officials said. “The ministry will continue to engage with stakeholders and the public as these reforms progress, with the objective of delivering a public transport system that is reliable, safe, and fit for purpose.”
Successive governments have promised an overhaul of the bus system and the introduction of modern, efficient public transport, but the reality remains a long way off.
