The Government will need to significantly increase its road maintenance budget if it wants to properly maintain Vanuatu’s road network, according to the Public Works Department.

Officials say maintaining more than 3,000 kilometres of roads across the country requires an estimated VT3.2 billion each year, far above the VT500 million currently allocated annually for road maintenance.

The funding gap was highlighted during a public hearing by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economic and Foreign Policy.

Public Works Department Project Manager Junior George said the current maintenance budget is insufficient to meet the growing demands of the country’s road infrastructure.

Road infrastructure remains one of the Government’s key priorities in this year’s national budget, with investment aimed at improving connectivity and supporting economic development.

The condition of Government-managed roads continues to be a major concern raised by communities across the country, with many calling for increased investment to improve accessibility and ensure roads remain safe and reliable.