This is after concerns that some parents and students, especially in the rural areas, have lost out on the State’s bus fare initiative.

Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, Pio Tikoduadua urged all transport providers to get a licence and a yellow licence plate.

He said operating a private vehicle saw parents and children suffer as they had to pay normal charges –– unlike their urban counterparts.

A meeting was held yesterday with the Fiji Bus Operators’ Association and Mr Tikoduadua said they got the impression the operators were satisfied with the arrangements.

However, the concern was on vehicle owners in the rural areas, who used their vehicles to transport students to school.

“It is the parents and students who suffer because they have to pay more,” Mr Tikoduadua said.

“They have no choice but to travel in these vehicles and in the process miss out on the initiative,” he said.