Ain: Plans to manage bus services being discussed

PLANS to manage bus services by authorities has been described as “pro-competitive”.
Independent Consumer and Competition Commission chief executive Paulus Ain was responding to questions from The National on proposals by the National Capital District Commission and the Road Transport Authority to manage bus services in Port Moresby.
“We perceive this proposal as a pro-competitive intervention as it will increase the number of private operators currently in the market,” he said.
“We are not aware of any talks to eliminate or do away with private operators.
“The ICCC understands that the proposed PMV service will service a different market to that serviced by the current PMV operators given the proposed service would operate on new routes with potential for there to be minimal overlap between the routes.
“Given PMV fares are fixed by the ICCC, the ICCC also supports measures that would increase competition amongst existing PMV operators as this can result in operators competing on non-price terms.
“This can entail operators improving the quality of their service by regularly cleaning their buses, replacing old seat covers and or seats and potentially replacing old PMV buses with new ones.
“The ICCC is also aware that the proposed private operators will offer premium services on special routes approved by the RTA but on an initial trial basis to test if the service would be feasible before a final investment decision is made to roll this out on a full scale.”