Fuel Station Closure Causing Chaos for Pupils and Patients in Rodrigues

Public transport and emergency services across Rodrigues have been pushed to the brink of paralysis this week following the sudden administrative closure of the strategic Baie-Lascars filling station.

The facility, which has served as a vital logistical lifeline for over a decade, was placed under seal seven days ago.

The move has triggered widespread travel chaos, leaving commuters stranded and essential service vehicles, including ambulances and the Rodclean refuse teams, struggling to maintain operations.

Regulatory Red Tape

The crisis reportedly stems from a licensing dispute. Le Mauricien sources indicate the National Transport Authority (NTA) refused to renew the station’s operating permit, citing incomplete or outdated documentation.

The closure remains in effect pending regularisation and a formal recommendation from the Commission for Public Infrastructure.

However, the decision has been met with disbelief by operators, given the station’s ten-year history of uninterrupted service.

“A Necessity, Not a Luxury”

The impact on daily life has been immediate and severe:

• Bus Networks: Cascading delays and prolonged waiting times for workers and students.
• Emergency Services: Ambulances and public service vehicles forced into costly detours.
• Congestion: Vehicles must now travel through the frequently bottlenecked capital to refuel at the saturated main AEL DDS station.

“This service was not a luxury, but a necessity,” one exasperated operator remarked. “Without it, the entire transport system is weakened. We should be making life easier for Rodriguans, not more complicated.”

From Pride to Paralysis

At its inception, the Baie-Lascars station was a symbol of island autonomy and efficiency, boasting an architecture finished in national colours.

It evolved from a simple daily tanker rotation to a permanent fixture equipped with fixed reservoirs.

Today, that symbol of progress feels like a “step backwards” for transport professionals.

The frustration is further compounded by a lack of clear public communication from local authorities, leaving patients, pupils, and workers to navigate the fallout of the fuel drought.

Source: Le Mauricien