THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE DEPARTMENT
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF CUREPIPE
Address: Queen Elizabeth II Avenue Curepipe • Phone No.: (230) 675 4041/42 • Fax No.: (230) 670 5054/676 5058
SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS:
HEAD OF PUBLIC INSFRASTRUCTURE
Mr P Balloo
The Public Infrastructure Department is responsible among others for the following main services:-
– Construction and maintenance of urban roads;
– Construction and repair of surface water drains;
– Construction, care, maintenance and improvement of public lighting in the towns, gardens/green spaces; including motorways & main roads;
– Maintenance of traffic signs and road marking including name plates on urban roads;
– Repairs and maintenance of fleet of municipal vehicles and plants;
– Processing of building permits and morcellement applications;
– Design and implement infrastructural projects related to buildings, roads, bridges, drains, pavements, lighting, playgrounds, sports grounds, social halls, traffic centres, markets, fairs, crematoriums, exhibition halls, art galleries, public libraries etc;
– Maintenance of infrastructural assets of the Council.
– Construction and maintenance of roads.
As per road hierarchy, the existing roads in a town are classified as follows:-
(i).motorways and main roads
(ii). urban roads
(iii). private roads
Item (ii) is under the responsibility of the Municipal Council and constitutes the major part of roads in town.
Item (iii) represents accesses which are controlled by individual plot owners who can control their entry, exit and overall use.
There are established procedures for conversion of private lanes into public roads, for subsequent construction and tarring as laid down in the Roads Act.
Drains
The existing drains network consists of covered drains, open masonry drains and earth drains. In view of the wet climate of Curepipe, a good network of drains has all its importance. Obstruction of a drain or its diversion without authorization is an offence condamnable by law as drains are considered to be “domaine public.”
Any property owner wishing to cover a drain crossing his land for security purposes needs to have Municipal authorization, also the authorization of the Water Resources Unit and of property owners bordering a natural drain to ensure its upkeep and good functioning. Upkeep of the network is covered by a cyclic maintenance at six-months intervals by a team of drain cleaners. Covering of drains or construction of drains in concrete is carried out under a capital programme on a yearly basis.
Public Lighting
The town is serviced by about 6,500 street lighting lanterns and covers almost all the built-up area of the town. In view of the expansion of the town, this service requires a consistent review, providing for the need of the citizens. A yearly upgrading programme is scheduled to replace the old fluorescent lanterns by more efficient and effective sodium vapour lamps.
An energy saving programme is under study for efficient use electricity under “Maurice Ile durable” programme.
(vi) NAMES OF OFFICERS IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE
