A new road in Fiji's Navosa highlands has cut travel time to government and health services from three hours to 30 minutes for communities in the Namataku district.
The Nasaucoko Community Access Road was commissioned by Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Mosese Bulitavu and completed at a cost of approximately $300,000 under the Rural Outer Island Development Program.
Namataku district representative Epeli Vamosi said the road was a long-awaited development.
"Today marks a momentous and blessed occasion for the people of Namataku," he said.
"We are witnessing the completion of a vital piece of infrastructure that generations before us had long advocated for and dreamed of."
The road serves five villages with more than 830 people across 271 households and is expected to improve access to health care, government services and markets.
It also improves connectivity between Namataku's highland communities and Vatumali Government Station, replacing the longer route through Bukuya in the district of Magodro.
Mr Vamosi said the road would also improve emergency access for medical teams.
"For the first time, our medical teams at Vatumali can access communities more quickly and efficiently, especially during emergencies when every minute matters," he said.
"We have witnessed ambulances using this route to transport patients to Lautoka, significantly reducing travel time and improving access to urgent medical care."
Mr Bulitavu said the project was part of the Government's push to improve services in remote communities.
"For many years, communities in these highlands have faced significant challenges in accessing services and markets," he said.
"This investment helps bridge that gap and ensures that development reaches those living furthest from urban centres."
The Nasaucoko opening was one of two road projects commissioned in Navosa.
Mr Bulitavu also opened the Lalati Settlement Farm Access Road in Noikoro, a project costing more than $140,000 and expected to improve access to farms, markets and services for surrounding communities.
