Roads in Mauritius
National Land Transport Authority
The National Land Transport Authority (NTLA) is the governmental department established under the Road Traffic Act in 1980 whose main responsibility is the regulation and control of road transport in Mauritius and Rodrigues. It falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Land Transport and Shipping. The responsibility for the administration of the NTLA rests with the Road Transport Commissioner.
The NTLAA also has a board constituted under section 73 of the Road Traffic Act. The Board consists of a chairman appointed by the Minister and 10 other members. The board is responsible to hear and decide on the applications for licenses for the transport of goods and passengers; and disciplinary proceedings instituted against transport operators, drivers, and conductors of public service vehicles for offences committed under the Act.[1]
The other responsibilities of this governmental department are:
- registration and transfer of ownership of motor vehicles;
- licensing of public service vehicles and goods vehicles as well as petrol service stations;
- collection of road tax and other licence fees;
- examination of motor vehicles as to their road-worthiness;
- licensing of bus conductors;
- enforcement of road transport legislation and monitoring the level of service of public transport;
- enforcement of parking regulations;
- keeping statistics relating to motor vehicles; and
- planning of new transport services.
Road network
As of 2019, there are 2,772 kilometers (1,722 mi) of roads in Mauritius, of which 1,140 kilometers (710 mi) are main roads, 913 kilometers (567 mi) are secondary roads, 104 kilometers (65 mi) are motorways and the remaining 615 kilometers (382 mi) are made up of other types of roads. The percentage of paved roads is 98%. The number of vehicles per kilometre of road is 209.[2]
The motorway network includes three main motorways:[3]
- M1 (Port Louis – Plaisance Dual Carriageway) goes from Port Louis to the International airport, also connecting Moka, Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, Quatre Bornes, Vacoas-Phoenix and Curepipe. Its length is 47 kilometers (29 mi) and it is the most important road in the country.
- M2 (Port Louis – Sottise Dual Carriageway) goes from Port Louis to Grand-Baie in the North, it also connects Pamplemousses. Its length is 23 kilometers (14 mi).
- M3 (Terre Rouge – Verdun – Trianon Link Road and Bagatelle – Valentina Link Road) bypasses Port Louis.
- M4 (Airport – Bel Air – Point Blanc – Forbach) is in early stages of contracting.[4]
References
- ^ National Transport Authority. "About Us". National Transport Authority – About Us. National Transport Authority. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
- ^ Digest of Road Transport and Road Accident Statistics Year 2018-2019 (XLS). Statistics Mauritius. February 2021.
- ^ "List of Classified Roads" (PDF). Road Development Authority.
- ^ "IFB Notice No. RDA/IFB/2020/66". Government of Mauritius e-Procurement System. 25 August 2020.