Public Transport Disrupted Tuesday as Staff Couldn't Reach Depots

Public bus services across Mauritius were disrupted on Tuesday morning after transport employees failed to reach their depots in time to begin their shifts, according to the National Land Transport Authority (NLTA). The NLTA — the government body responsible for regulating road-based public transport in Mauritius, including buses and taxis — confirmed the disruptions, attributing them to the difficulty workers faced getting to their starting points amid the aftermath of widespread civil unrest that gripped parts of the island overnight. The knock-on effect was felt by commuters who depend on bus services for their daily commute, particularly those travelling into Port Louis and other urban centres for work. **A morning of compounding transport challenges** Tuesday's public transport situation was complicated on multiple fronts. The Metro Express light rail network, which connects Port Louis to Curepipe via the central corridor, also remained suspended as operators continued inspecting the network for damage following the unrest. With buses disrupted and the Metro Express offline, many workers faced significant difficulty getting to their workplaces. Business Mauritius, the private sector umbrella body, urged companies to allow employees to work from home where possible. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's Office confirmed that the civil service would operate as normal. The CTSP (Confédération des Travailleurs du Secteur Privé), a leading private sector trade union, had separately called on the government to declare Tuesday a public holiday — a move that was not enacted. **What this means for commuters** For the thousands of Mauritians who rely solely on public buses — particularly lower-income workers without private vehicles — the disruption was more than an inconvenience. Bus services are the backbone of daily mobility for a large segment of the population, especially in rural and suburban areas. The NLTA has not yet indicated when full services would resume, and commuters were advised to check for updates. The situation is expected to normalise as workers are able to return to their depots and routes are progressively reinstated. The disruptions come in the wake of one of the most significant episodes of civil unrest seen in Mauritius in recent years, with damage reported at several police stations, commercial properties and public spaces across the island. Source: Le Defi Media