4,000 idle SLCTB buses to be auctioned

by Ananda KANNANGARA

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A record 4,000 buses which are lying idle in depot yards of the Sri Lanka Transport Board countrywide will be sold before the end of September on a directive by Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma.

The Minister has directed officials to remove all vital spare parts of the buses which are in good condition before the buses are auctioned.

“The objective of this program is to clear the depot yards countrywide and also to prevent the removal of vital spare parts by those roaming in depot premises,” Minister Alahapperuma told the Sunday Observer.

He said according to information a large number of buses which have vital spare parts have been lying idle at SLCTB depots in the Northern and Eastern provinces during the past ten years.

The Transport Minister said that data will be collected on all buses lying idle in these provinces to see whether they could be repaired before they are auctioned.

“The buses will be repaired if possible to strengthen the passenger transport service in these two provinces”.

He said this decision was taken following complaints received from these two provinces, especially the Eastern Province, which was liberated by the security forces recently.

“People in rural areas in the Eastern Province need additional buses, especially after their liberation from the LTTE,” Minister Alahapperuma said.

He said the Government will also deploy new buses in these two provinces soon.