Improve quality of public transport in keeping with fare hike

Majority people say the quality of public transport in our country is deteriorating and that it has to be improved. Some are of the view that responsible officials do not take much interest to improve the standard of the transport sector.

When the `Sunday Observer’ interviewed people to seek their views in this regard, a 46 -year old school principal of Ampara, Maharoof Badurdeen said the quality of transport in the Eastern Province has been falling during the past fifteen years.

He said it was not only due to lack of buses in the province but also due to poor maintenance work of workers.

He urged the authorities in Colombo to visit the East and see the pathetic situation of public transport in the Province.

Senior Accountant in a shipping company, Jayadeva Samaranayaka said “I don’t think it will be productive to make proposals to improve the quality of public transport in the country as no official will listen to our proposals”.

He said the quality of transport in the country has deteriorated due to the negligence of officials.

Pradeshiya Sabha member of the Southern Provincial Council Nishantha Wickramage said the majority of public sector officials and also politicians in the country travel their own vehicles and not in public transport to buses or trains.

“Therefore, I suggest them also to travel by public transport. Unless they do so they will never feel the importance of improving the quality of public transport in the country”.

Employee at Agrarian Services Department, Vidura Priyankara of Peradeniya said the quality of public transport cannot be improved with a few buses or trains.

“Government should import more buses considering the day to day increasing number of passengers, otherwise the quality of the public transport in the country will never be improved,”.

Medical student in the Peradeniya University, Kumuduni Hewawasam said the present fleet of CTB buses is not enough to provide a quality service as the majority of them are not in a running condition.

“Therefore, I suggest the Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma to visit countrywide SLCTB depots and direct the officials to repair all unused buses,”.

He said if officials do not take action in this regard, no one can expect a quality transport service.

A resident of Kesbewa and film producer Nihar Dharmendra, said a large number of buses are lying in the Kesbewa CTB depot due to lack of spare parts. Only 50 per cent of buses in the depot are in the running condition.

“Under such circumstances how can the CTB provide a quality transport service,” he asked. He said the State of other bus depots in the country were also the same and suggested that the Transport Minister should import spare parts and repair all idling buses which are at CTB depot yards to provide a quality service.

Executive, Senaka Gunasekara of Kadawata proposed that the General Manager of Railways deploy additional trains during the morning and evening sessions to provide a quality service for passengers, especially for office workers.

“The existing trains are not enough to cater to the increasing number of passengers,”.

Owner of a beauty saloon at Kaduwela Shehani Walgampaya requested the Railway authorities to deploy sufficient security personnel in trains, especially those are running at night, so that no one could remove valuable parts in compartments such as fans, racks, bulbs, iron bars and also seat covers.

Lecturer in the Ruhunu University, Dr. Sarath Siriwardane asked how the Government can provide a quality transport service when over 90 passengers are travelling in some buses. Quoting the recent bus bomb explosion at Piliyandala where over 15 people died and 73 injured, he said there were more than 88 passengers at the time the bus met with the accident.

Therefore, he suggested that the CTB should import more buses otherwise the transport services in the country cannot be improved. Employee in the Bank of Ceylon Samanthi Handunge proposed that the CTB to deploy buses with few seats, so that many passengers will be able to travel even standing.

Landed proprietor, Samson Samaranayaka of Pelmadulla asked the Government to add more buses to the present fleet, otherwise it is difficult to provide a quality transport service.

“Higher officials in the transport sector should not be in their offices and they should visit bus stands and also travel in buses, especially during evening sessions, so that they could see whether a quality public transport service can be provided with few buses.

He also asked the Government authorities to reduce the CTB bus fare considering that CTB, is a Government institution.

Businessman, Abubucker Shaul Hameed of Delgoda said ‘although the bus fare has gone up following the fuel hike, how can the quality of public transport be improved with a few buses’. “Therefore, I suggest to the CTB to provide additional buses including luxury intercity buses, so that a high quality transport service can be rendered.

Advanced Level student of Zahira College, Maradana, Mohamed Fayaz wanted the officials in the transport sector to direct all CTB and private buses to pick up schoolchildren at bus stands.

He also suggested the authorities to direct the intercity buses to charge half the fare from children under 12 years and not the full amount as they do at present. Executive, Sri Lanka Scout Association, Sudath Wijenayaka wanted the private bus owners to continue their services even until midnight for the benefit of workers in shops, hospitals, garment industries and also in the free trade zones.

He said that there are no buses in many routes after 9.30 pm everyday.

Businessman, Manoj Kusumsiri of Ja-Ela said a quality transport service cannot be expected in the city of Colombo, due to the heavy traffic during the day.

He proposed the authorities to ban all types of vehicles other than passenger buses coming to Colombo city on week days, so that a quality transport service can be expected even with the available buses.