Public Transport: The Government Launches the Digital Revolution for Buses

Public Transport: The government is initiating a digital revolution for buses.
On Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 1:00 PM, an invitation to tender for a fleet management system will be issued before the end of October. The goal is to modernize the bus network by introducing GPS, potential contactless payment, and real-time tracking of routes.

A small revolution is underway in the Mauritian public transport sector: buses will soon be monitored, controlled, and compensated in real time, based on each trip rather than daily, as has been the practice for years. The Ministry of Land Transport and Light Rail is accelerating its efforts. According to our sources, the tender for the Fleet Management System (an innovative project) will be launched by the end of October. The aim of this technological reform is clear: to provide authorities with complete visibility over the movement of the country's bus fleet while ensuring strict monitoring of schedules and routes.

For the first time, this system will allow real-time localization of buses through GPS devices. Authorities will be able to verify whether vehicles adhere to their routes and schedules, a recurring issue raised by users for years.

According to very reliable information, ministry officials have been working tirelessly to bring this project to fruition. Between June and October, just four months after the Minister of Finance allocated a budget for this purpose for the first time, officials finalized technical specifications and initiated the necessary administrative procedures to launch the tender. This race against time has been conducted under the direct supervision of Transport Minister Osman Mahomed, who is determined to modernize a sector deemed outdated.

This project is part of the broader Bus Services Bill currently in preparation. This legislation, described as a "structural reform," specifically aims to introduce a comprehensive Fleet Management System. It will include not only GPS tracking but also a potential contactless payment system and a strict code of conduct for operators and drivers.

The government's ambition is to place transparency and accountability at the heart of public transport. "We need to professionalize the service and restore passengers' trust," officials state. The idea is also to harmonize practices among different bus companies, which are often accused of opacity and inefficiency.

A Costly Gap

But beyond technology, the stakes are economic and also concern efficiency. Currently, the compensation system between the state and bus companies is based on daily payments rather than the actual number of trips made. "This structural gap is costly to the public budget," it is indicated.

Minister Osman Mahomed does not mince his words. "The current calculation method is outdated. The current situation does not serve the public interest," he declares. The numbers speak for themselves: individual bus companies estimate that up to 90% of their passengers benefit from free transport, while only 40% are accounted for in the state's compensation system.

This distortion creates a financial chasm and skews data on actual network usage. To address this, a new accounting method, directly integrated into the Fleet Management System, will calculate compensations based on actual trips and GPS data.

For Minister Osman Mahomed, this digital shift is not just a matter of technology: it is a matter of rigor. "We must be accountable. The public transport service must be worthy of its name," he emphasizes.

Behind this initiative lies a broader desire: to clean up public transport management while laying the groundwork for a transition to more ecological and intelligent modes. If the timeline is respected, the tender should be finalized by the end of the month, and the implementation of the system would begin in 2026. This long-awaited change could transform the way Mauritians travel—and finally breathe new life into a crucial sector, with economic, social, and environmental implications—essential considerations for sustainable development.