Develop public transport from scratch – President
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa advised authorities to revive the uplift of the public transport service, by creating a conducive environment for passengers to travel.
“A small step will lead to a big change. Start cleaning buses and provide seating facilities to passengers from tomorrow,” the President ordered.
Pointing out the small step taken to stop using posters kept cities clean, President Rajapaksa said development in any sector can begin with a small initiative.
The President said so during a meeting to discuss future activities of the Ministry of Transport and the State Ministry of Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services and Carriages and Automotive Industries, held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (18).
The President reiterated the necessity of implementing the Park and Drive system to minimise traffic congestion. Although the Transport Board provides bus transport, it should be transformed into a profitable entity, he said. Both public and private transport sectors should pay attention to the bus service in rural areas.
“Start implementing the combined transport timetable of trains and buses without delay. It is important to identify areas that need swift solutions to develop the transport sector. Long and short-term plans should be formulated for the next five years to develop the sector. It is imperative to review if targets have been achieved,” the President said.
It was decided to repair railway carriages to provide a better service. Transport Minister Gamini Lokuge said Colombo Fort and four other railway stations will be modernised as a pilot project.
The Minister said by increasing the number of trains, more people will be able to travel on the Kelani Valley Railway Line.
State Minister Dilum Amunugama pointed out the importance of exploring the benefits which can be gained by opening up the services of training and maintenance facilities belonging to the Transport Board to the private sector as well.
It was decided to introduce a prepaid card system expeditiously for both public and private sectors for an efficient passenger transport service.
During this meeting, the steps that should be taken to rid the Department of Motor Traffic of corruption and irregularities were discussed in detail.
The President drew attention to the possibility of allowing ordinary buses in good condition to operate on the expressway, so that more passengers could travel, paying low bus fares.
Secretary to the President, P.B. Jayasundera, Finance Secretary S.R. Attygalle, Secretary to the Ministry of Transport N.B. Monty Ranatunga, and Heads of the institutions under the Ministry of Transport and the State Ministry, as well as representatives of private bus associations were present at the discussion.
(Source: Ceylon Today)
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Here we go again. I am going to do this. I am going to give this. Sirisena and Ranil all over again.
This is impossible, non practical and dangerous.
Even in the event of this unlikely things this man suggest, the cost of travelling from say Colombo to Gale or Kandy by bus or train will be about Rs 5000.00
So instead of using public transport the road will be filled with crazy motor cycles and tuk tuks. Accidents , accidents accidents
I like to replace my hum dum Nisan for a luxurious Mercedes with self parking and massaging seats. But the cost is 10 times more and I cannot afford it . It is simply like that.
Sri Lanken so called buses are vehicles built on truck chassis with uncomfortably seats, engine inside the bus and heavily sprung to carry loads of people packed like sardines.
So to replace the these cattle trucks with what this guy suggest you need at least 4 modern low level, lightly sprung busses with the engine at the back.
They are very expansive and need regular maintenance at very high cost.
To drive this you have to retrain all the mad drivers in Sri Lanke. These buses cannot take the punishment they imposed on these cattle trucks, Sri lanken bus drivers only interest is to move forward at any cost to collect the fare. Training these crazy drug addicts want be a easy task.
So i expected you to be bit different from your predecessors but same old story.
.
That’s excellent analysis, Ranjith.
The upgrade of transport fleet will costs billions and billions of Money which no country in the world has now.
A broadband network covering every village, every homestead in the Country will produce far better outcome.
Urban infrastructure covering every village including schools, hospitals, community halls, water, sewer and stormwater, waste collection, steady power supply will produce better results than buying new AC busses.
If corruption in Police is eliminated and traffic rules including speeding, overloading and emmissions from busses and cleanliness are strictly enforced, the transport system will be superb.
Avlis,
What you say, 100% correct.
The transportation system is in shambles due to corruption in the streets.
Enforce the law, fearlessly, then we will have excellent public transport.
Over development of rural road network is supporting forest degradation and forest and public land encroachments causing many types of animal-human conflicts in many countries.
Therefore, spending more money for road development could be wasting.
So we urge the president and the government to get advise from logistic experts, transport economists and environmentalists.