By Diedre S. Tarwo

MONROVIA, July 30(LINA) -In an effort to further reduce the cost of transportation in Liberia, the Liberia National Transit Authority (NTA) has received two batches of spare parts from India to repair 15 of the 26 NTA buses that have been out of service for the last two years.

According to a statement from the NTA dated July 30, 2024, the consignments arrived in Monrovia on Tuesday, July 16, and Wednesday July 17, 2024 marking the commencement of a crucial phase in the rehabilitation of the country's public transport fleet.

The statement disclosed that the spare parts were purchased from India by West Coast and Logistics investment Company.

The statement disclosed that the Government of Liberia recognizes the critical role of public transportation in national development, as such, it allocated $US300,000 in the national budget of fiscal year 2024 for the purchase of the spare parts to repair the NTA's out of service buses.

The report mentioned that the allocated funds have been instrumental in facilitating the procurement of the high-quality spare parts from Tata Motors which is expected to breathe new life into the NTA's operations.

The NTA's management has expressed optimism that the procurement of these spare parts will address challenges, enabling the NTA to resume full operations and provide reliable transportation services to the public.

“This represents an important step in the NTA's ongoing efforts to restore and enhance its services which have been hampered by mismanagement,” the report cited.

The release further pointed out that the initiative is not just about repairing the buses but also about laying the foundation for sustainable maintenance practices that would prevent future breakdowns.

The release further stated that the NTA aim is not only to bring the 15 buses back into operation but also to enhance the overall reliability and efficiency of its services.

It can be recalled that before the inauguration of the Unity Party led government, the NTA buses had been operational in only two counties-Montserrado and Nimba.

The NTA statement revealed that this limited service constrained the NTA's ability to meet the transportation needs of the broader population, citing that with the repair of the additional 15 buses, the NTA is poised to expand its reach across more counties, significantly increasing its visibility and impact.

The statement added that the NTA enhanced fleet will enable the institution to extend its services to other parts of the country, thereby easing transportation challenges faced by citizens in remote and underserved areas.

Meanwhile, the communication revealed that the management is in discussion with several bus companies for the procurement of additional buses.

The NTA further said that it is set to play an important role in providing reliable, efficient, and accessible public transportation, stressing that the initiative exemplifies the government's commitment to infrastructure development and its vision for a more connected and prosperous Liberia.