|
|
|
| Sunday, 4 December 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Politics |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Fowzie gets cracking by Ananda Kannangara In keeping with the pledge made by the Government to strengthen the State transport sector to provide a better service to the commuters, the new Transport Minister A.H.M. Fowzie has taken a firm decision to repair at least 2000 buses, currently idling in countrywide Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLCTB) depots. The Minister was compelled to take such a decision following two surprise visits he made to two SLCTB depots at Kesbewa and Gampaha in the Western Province last week. In an interview with the Sunday Observer Minister Fowzie expressed his disappointment over many buses idling in depots due to the negligence of officials. "During the next few weeks my intention is to make more and more visits to other SLCTB depots and carry out on the spot investigations as to why the officials have not paid any attention to such buses and allowed them to deteriorate at depot premises," he said. He said due to lack of major spare parts such as engines and gearboxes, many buses which are otherwise in good condition were kept off the roads and if these buses could be utilized by spending money only on spareparts, the country could save a large quantity of funds. Asked whether the Government has no intention of importing new buses to strengthen the present fleet of 5000 buses, the Minister said that like the double decker buses imported recently, some more new buses too will have to be imported to cater to the day-to-day increasing number of commuters. Meanwhile a senior Transport official said that two leading Indian bus manufacturers, Tata and Ashok Leyland have already signed an agreement with the SLCTB and the first consignment of 600 buses will arrive in Colombo Harbour in the middle of next month. He also said that no new buses were added to the present fleet after the year 2000 and this is the first occasion that higher transport officials have focused attention on the importing of new buses and also spareparts in large quantities to repair buses which are lying idle in depots. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
