The government of Seychelles has announced the reintroduction of park-and-ride services, marking the third attempt in 14 years to reduce traffic congestion in and around Victoria.
The initiative was unveiled at a joint press conference held on Tuesday, 13 December 2025, by the Department of Transport, Seychelles Public Transport Corporation (SPTC) and the Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA).
Park-and-ride services were previously piloted in 2012 and reintroduced in December 2016. Authorities say the latest trial, which will run for three months from Christmas Eve, is a short-term measure aimed at easing traffic pressure in the capital.
The Principal Secretary for Transport, Patrick Andre, said the initiative forms part of a broader plan to address congestion in Victoria.
“The minister has put forward her prerogative to address the issue of traffic congestion in Victoria,” Mr Andre said. “We have started some work to mitigate the issue. We have visited sites and carried out small surveys. To tackle this issue, we have proposed short, medium and long-term plans.”
Mr Andre said that they have identified Mont Fleuri as one of the key areas expected to benefit from the service, citing the high concentration of offices and essential services, including medical facilities.
He said the decision to reintroduce the scheme was taken in collaboration with stakeholders, including the SPTC and the SPA. The service will be monitored during the trial period and adjusted if necessary.
Under the plan, drivers will be able to park their vehicles at the Inter Island Quay and travel by shuttle bus to designated priority locations. Shuttle services will operate in the morning and afternoon, with the possibility of an additional service at lunchtime if demand requires it.
“If there is a need, SPTC may introduce a third shuttle during lunchtime,” Mr Andre said.
The SPTC’s Chief Executive Officer, Geffy Zialor, said a shuttle schedule had been designed specifically for the park-and-ride route. Two shuttle buses will operate during the morning period. The fare has been set at five rupees for the trial period.
“We came up with the price for the trial period to entice people to use the service so as to reduce traffic congestion in and around town,” Mr Zialor said.
Payments will be accepted through SPTC’s existing digital payment methods, including payment though card and the company’s mobile application.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Ports Authority, Sonny Payet, said parking at the Inter Island Quay would be free for the duration of the three-month trial.
Mr Payet added that security at the parking facility would be reinforced and that the area is equipped with surveillance cameras. The site can accommodate up to 256 vehicles.
Authorities say the trial will help assess the effectiveness of the scheme before any longer-term decisions are made.