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| Sunday, 15 May 2005 |
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Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Ways and means to improve private bus services by Gamini Warushamana A comprehensive proposal to develop the private bus transport system in the country was handed over to Transport Minister Felix Perera last week. It proposes ways and means to improve the quality of the service and new management system to bus operations. The project proposal was prepared by Director Operations of the Homagama Private Bus Owners' Association Gunasinghe K. Liyanage. Liyanage said that since there are serious problems in the sector affecting the whole economy, solving the problems in the transport sector is an urgent need. All issues in the service and views of bus owners as well as commuters were considered in formulating these proposals. It proposes to appoint a board of control for transport management by an Act of Parliament. The board will consist of representatives of the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Highways, Ministry of Environment, Traffic Police, Provincial Councils, trade unions, commuter organisations and ominibus owners organisations. The role of the board is policy formulation for the improvement of the service. Evaluation of complaints and settling them, safeguarding the interests of commuters and affected parties followed by crew and bus owners and auditing and passing monthly account statements of individual bus companies are some of the other responsibilities of the board. The new system emphasises the need to strictly prevent bus strikes that frequently arise resulting in paralysing the whole economy of the country and expects that the new board will be able to efficiently settle issues. The board is responsible for identifying shortcomings of bus crew, owners and find remedies. The board is also responsible for any failure in implementation of stipulated requirements in the Act. The proposal identifies ominibus owners organisations, bus crew, flying squads and emergency mechanical teams as key players in the implementation. The proposal stipulated required qualifications for each player. It stresses the qualifications and training of bus crew to overcome the present problems faced by bus owners and commuters and to reduce the rate of accidents. Liyanage emphasised the need for flying squads to address many problems in the service today. These inspectors should be in uniform and hold valid driving licences. At the time of inspection they should have a vehicle check list and knowledge to check tickets and collection with the conductor, qualification or licence of driver and conductor, mechanical condition of the bus, sobriety of crew and whether the vehicle is driven comfortably. The proposal also covered the school transport services and recommended conditions that should be covered by school children's transport vehicles. The board will govern the school transport service too and a flying squad will check those vehicles as well. Liyanage said that the business is profitable but not for all. Only well
managed businesses can survive and the management finds it difficult because
revenue collection cannot be monitored by bus owners. |
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