The Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Alan Ganoo, announced, this morning, in a press briefing at the seat of his Ministry in Port-Louis, a series of measures as regards the transport sector in the context of the COVID-19 situation and the re-opening of additional economic activities as from 31 March 2021.

The highlights of the measures announced are as follows:

Extension for the renewal of all Licences by the National Land Transport Authority (NLTA)

• All Public Service Vehicle Licences, Road Service Licences as well as Contract Car and Contract Bus Licences will be extended up to 31 August 2021. 

• Licences for Petrol Service Stations holding a valid Fire Certificate issued by the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Services will be extended up to 31 August 2021.

• Motor Vehicle Licences that have expired on the last day of February 2021 will be extended up to 31 August 2021 subject to the vehicle having a valid insurance cover. Arrears will have to be paid as from the expiry date, without any surcharge.

Operation of Vehicle Examination Stations (VES)

• As from Thursday 01 April 2021, Vehicle Examination Stations which issue fitness certificates to owners of vehicles, will operate as per alphabetical order.

• Vehicle owners residing within the Red Zones should call only at the SGS Ltd VES of Forest Side, while vehicles residing in other regions of the island may call at either Autocheck Ltd VES of Plaine Lauzun or at the Eastern VES of l’Aventure for examination of their motor vehicles.

Registration of Electric auto/motorcycles

• The registration process as regards electric autocycles/

motorcycles will now start as from 03 May 2021 up to 31 December 2021 instead of 31 March 2021 to 26 November 2021.

• As regards the purchase of new electric autocycles/motorcycles, the date 31 March 2021 is maintained whereby importers and dealers will have to register the vehicles in the owner’s name on purchase.

MV Wakashio Solidarity Fund

In line with the report of the MV Wakashio Assistance and Support Cell, the Ministry was called upon to look into the implementation of the payment of MV Wakashio Solidarity Grant of Rs 10 200 monthly to taxi and car rental operators for the period of August 2020 to December 2020 and a one-off payment of Rs 5 000 per taxi or contract cars to taxi owners and car rental operators representing Business Continuity Grant. 

In this context, the Accountant General’s Department has confirmed that needful has been done for 352 eligible beneficiaries on Tuesday 23 March 2021.

  

Operation of the Metro Express

The Light Rail Transit System will be operational as from Thursday 01 April 2021 under strict sanitary protocols, notably the restriction on the number of passengers allowed on board the Metro Express and the wearing of masks, among others.

Transport arrangements during the PSAC/NCE examinations

• Arrangements with bus operators for provision of bus services during the examination period in order to allow students to reach their examination centers on time have been made.

• Bus operators have been called upon to deploy and release their bus fleet to ensure conveyance of students.

• Special arrangements have also been made for students attending examination centres located in the Red Zone.

• School buses will be allowed to operate during the National Certificate of Education (NCE) examinations as well as during the PSAC examinations subject to observance of strict sanitary protocols.

• As from 29 March 2021, a helpdesk will be established by the NLTA to provide school buses with special stickers in order to operate in different zones of the island, including the Red Zone.

 

Speaking about the importance of hygiene to curtail any COVID-19 contamination, Mr Ganoo stressed that everyone should wear their face masks, maintain social distancing, and use hand sanitisers regularly. He affirmed that dedicated buses would convey the students and that these vehicles would be cleaned and disinfected accordingly.

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