To Track the "Brown Vans": Authorities Establish a Squad

At a meeting held on Tuesday between representatives of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, police and the National Transport Authority, it was decided to establish a special squad to make life harder for illegal operators. It will consist of NTA inspectors and police.

With the implementation of this measure by the authorities, those who violate the law may fine or worse, their vehicles could be sealed. Moreover, Section 21 of the Road Traffic Act clearly states that a driver can use his vehicle for activities for which it does not hold a license. Passengers are also not spared as they face a fine. NTA suggests that actions are taken and that they will be accentuated.

It is a fact that the activities of taxis and "brown vans" are nothing new. And for many who are used, it makes transportation service, especially in areas served by the bus companies sometimes inadequate. Nevertheless, it remains illegal and is a problem for transit operators. And this is not the chairman of the board of directors of the National Transport Corporation, Ashwin Dookun who say otherwise. "These illegal operations have a big impact on our revenues. Our monthly revenues are allocated 25% to 30% on average. We reported and the ball is now in the hands of the authorities, "says Ashwin Dookun.

In addition, the operations of "brown vans" are not a problem for the direction of the bus companies only. According to Alain Kistnen, secretary of the Union of Bus Industry Workers (UBIW) loss charged by the shipping company has inevitable repercussions on the situation of employees. "Is that the 2500 employees of the NTC will be condemned to suffer harm, and the benefit of a few people who operate illegally and their families? Is that young people are interested in integrating companies that make losses? "Asks Alain Kistnen. The secretary of the UBIW also deplores "the impotence of the authorities" against such abuses.

According to the operators of public transport, these illegal activities are obvious.

They can be found at La Louise, Quatre Bornes, the place from which the vans conduct trips to St. Paul, Floreal and Curepipe. The phenomenon is also on Route 141, that is to say, Henrietta Port Louis or Saint-Pierre in Curepipe. Illegal operators also would crack after hours visit to the Victoria Hospital, vans are parked squarely on the sidewalks near the traffic lights to embark passengers to join the high-Plaines Wilhems.