Booster dose for SLCTB fleet

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The Ministry of Transport recently decided to import new buses and also repair buses that are idling at depot yards and thus increase the present fleet of 4500 to 5000. In addition, the Ministry has also decided to strengthen the Northern region transport sector by improving the passenger as well as goods services between North and the South.

In an interview with the Sunday Observer, Transport Minister Kumara Welgama said steps have already been taken to import 500 new TATA buses from India, within the next six months.

"There are 105 SLCTB depots countrywide and I hope to visit all the depots in the near future, so that I could get a first hand knowledge of the needs of the depots as well as problems faced by the employees."

Minister Welgama said all the depots in Kalutara, Colombo and Gampaha in the Western Province which operate over 1000 buses everyday find it difficult to cater to the needs of the increasing population and, therefore, additional buses need to be deployed.

The Minister also paid special attention to the shortage of school buses and promised immediate action to increase the present fleet of 480 school buses with an addition of 50.He was also concerned in running additional school buses in the Northern region, since a recent survey has shown that there is a marked improvement in school going population in the peninsula, especially after the conflict was over.

Asked what plans the Transport Ministry has to improve the passenger transport in the Jaffna peninsula, the Minister said the present fleet of nearly 300 buses which are being operated in the North cannot meet the needs of the increasing population.

"The conflict is now over and as a result, new Government offices, public and private banks, private sector enterprises, workshops, hospitals, shopping complexes and schools have come up in the region.

"The population percentage in the Northern Region has increased tremendously, especially after the Government's resettlement program."

He pointed out that the Northern Region Transport Board needs additional buses which would be fulfilled with the arrival of new buses from India.

The Minister also spoke of the recommencement of Colombo-Jaffna CTB bus services after a period of nearly 30 odd years and reported that ten buses have been deployed to ply between these two main cities, everyday.

A notable income of Rs. 50,000 is recorded from each bus.

"Many buses are operated at nights for the convenience of passengers and our next objective is to increase the present fleet for the benefit of persons who are engaged in goods transportation between Jaffna and Colombo." Minister Welgama said transport services between Kandy-Jaffna, Batticaloa-Jaffna, Matale-Jaffna, Ampara-Jaffna and Trincomalee-Jaffna will be expanded further by deploying more buses, in the coming months.

The Minister said the SLCTB has also plans to operate air conditioned buses on long distance routes, following numerous requests by passengers.

"We feel that more income could be generated by deploying AC buses, especially on long distance routes".

Asked what steps have been taken to crack down on ticketless travellers, the Minister said that the required number of flying squad officers have been assigned with this task.

"This has resulted in the SLCTB to minimise ticketless travellers and also errant bus conductors who do not issue tickets on short distance routes".

Minister Welgama also promised to clear a large number of unused buses which are idling at depot yards."We have been selling all the damaged and unused buses by calling for tenders, at least twice every year". Speaking on the development of rail services the Minister said five power sets will arrive from India in September and hopes to provide additional trains during the peak hours for the convenience of office workers.

He further said the entire Colombo-Talaimannar stretch of railway line will be completed by the end of next year and the railway service between Colombo and Thandikulam too will be completed shortly.

From there on, the work on the track between Omanthai and Jaffna will commence which is undertaken by an Indian company.

Minister Welgama said the first phase of the Matara-Beliatte rail track will be completed soon and the remaining work upto Kataragama will also commence shortly.