Ampara to become major transport hub
By Mohammed Naalir reporting from Ampara
It was day time, around 1.30 pm. People were hurrying to catch the
buses for their destinations while some were standing under the shadow
of trees until the buses came. Some college students were chatting with
each other till their bus began the journey. Some elders and middle age
women were sitting inside the bus stand. Long distance buses started to
leave on time.
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Government Agent, Ampara, Neil de Alwis |
Everything was taking place as usual but the development of Ampara
bus stand stuck out like a sore thumb. The building was not clean and
untidy. It seemed to be white washed a long time ago. We talked some
passengers, bus drivers, shop keepers and mobile vendors in the bus
stand.
We talked with them about the development taken place in Ampara
district parallel to Deyata Kirula national development exhibition held
at Hardy Higher Technical Institute premises. They were contended with
all livelihood and infrastructure development projects implemented in
the district, except the development of Ampara bus stand. They
collectively said that the Ampara bus stand was not developed in line
with Deyata Kirula exhibition, and said the Government should take steps
to develop Ampara bus stand in line with other development projects to
be implemented in Ampara district.
A resident of Akkaraipattu, Rafiudeen Musadique said that a large
number of major livelihood and infrastructure development projects have
been implemented in Ampara district by the Government in Ampara district
parallel to 7th Deyata Kirula exhibition. Over 75 percent development
works in the district have been completed. Certain rural roads have also
to be renovated. The relevant authorities should take immediate steps to
implement the remaining projects considering the well-being of large
number of people residing in these areas.
He said that certain access roads are being developed in Akkaraipattu
area. A large number of irrigation canals have been renovation while
providing adequate incentives to improve the agriculture sector.
When, he was asked about Ampara bus station. Musadique said he knows
nothing as he did not visit Ampara town for the past couple of months.
A.M. Sadique, a private bus driver, said that 32 private buses play
between Kalmunai and Ampara daily. We have no parking facilities in the
bus stand. There is no rest room for drivers and conductors in the bus
stand. There are enough toilets but they are not clean. If those
facilities are improved it will be helpful for everyone including the
passengers.
He said that a large number of people come to Ampara bus stand to get
a bus for Badulla, Nuwara-Eliya, Bandarawela, Galle, Matara, Hambantota,
Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Kalmunai, Mahiyangana and other parts of the
country.
The bus stand is not maintained properly. It should be kept clean.
Passengers, drivers, conductors and the shop keepers should help keep
the bus stand clean. The relevant authorities should take necessary
steps to solve this problem. The facilities in the bus stand are enough
to a considerable level. But those facilities should be improved.
Ahmad Nawshad, a bus driver, operating between Ampara and Kalmunai
said that the parking facility is the main problem faced by the bus
operators. We undergo huge inconveniences to park the buses and to enter
the stand. A large number of buses are parked by the sides of road due
to lack of parking facilities inside the bus stand.
Most probably roads for all directions have been developed and
carpeted. Our only request to the authorities is to develop the bus
stand. The Government implemented various development projects in the
district parallel to Deyata Kirula exhibition. The development of Ampara
bus stand should have been included but the Government failed to do it.
But still we are confident that the Government will do its job well,
driver Nawshad said.
Owner of Deepal Dias Transport Services, K.M. Abeyratne said that
there are so many shortcomings in the bus stand to be improved. We hoped
the bus stand would be developed under the Deyata Kirula program. But it
did not take place.
“We want to get the bus stand developed. During the rainy season, the
entire stand premises will remain muddy due to the movement of buses.
During heavy rains the bus station building will also get wet. Certain
days the bus station will remain dark. Certain days lights will be
burning even during the day time. Maintenance of Ampara bus stand is
very poor”, he said.
“I immediately brought this to the attention of Ampara Municipal
Councilor in this regard. He took immediate action and solved this
problem immediately. Now lights are maintained properly, switched off in
the morning switched on in the evening”, Abeyratne said.
“Hundreds of buses arrive in and leave from Ampara to various parts
of the country. Thousands of passengers come to Ampara bus stand to
leave for various directions and vice versa. When the Ampara bus stand
is developed the people in the region as well as other parts of the
country will immensely benefit. The facilities at the bus station should
be improved while developing it but there is no shortage of buses.
Anytime buses will be available to various directions from Ampara”,
Abeyratne said.
We brought the view of people to the attention of Government Agent of
Ampara district Neil de Alwis. He said nobody needs to worry; the
Government has taken steps to develop the Ampara bus stand with all
facilities soon. Estimation to implement the project is being prepared
now.
He said that the regional development was postponed because there was
a shortage of technicians. Both the Deyata Kirula site development works
and regional development projects can’t be implemented simultaneously.
If implemented the real outcome of the project can’t be obtained. Due to
this cause the development of Ampara bus stand was postponed. The
Government has implemented various livelihoods and infrastructure
development projects development projects parallel to Deyata Kirula
national development program under the regional development program.
Rural roads, bus halts, irrigation canals are being developed under
the regional development program. Ampara bus stand will be developed
into a model bus stand in the region. On the completion of the project
all facilities will be available in the Ampara bus stand, Alwis said.
“We have developed fairs and markets under the regional development
program. Under this program priority has been given to rural
development. Certain development projects which were missed in the
Deyata Kirula development program have been included to regional
development program. On the completion of ongoing development projects
the Ampara district will be state of the art district” Alwis said.
“The Government Agent said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has
instructed him to implement the development projects perfectly. Standard
and quality will be considered highly. We did not want to develop the
Ampara bus stand temporarily for Deyata Kirula exhibition. Economic
Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa has also instructed us that a
sustainable development should be achieved in the region. He also
instructed us to be vigilant in the quality and standard while the
construction is going on”, Alwis said.
Every fifteen minutes a bus will leave from Ampara to other parts of
the district and other parts of the country. To develop the bus stand is
the collective appeal of people in Ampara town. Ampara possesses special
features such as tourism attractions like Ullai, Pottuvil and most
important historical sites close to Ampara. At least white washing the
bus stand at the moment is rather good. All bus stands in the Deyata
Kirula held cities have been developed and modified except Ampara bus
stand. He asked the relevant authorities at least to white wash the bus
stand building before commencing the development work on the bus stand,
Abeyratne said.
A pop corn vendor at the bus stand said that there are several pits
inside the bus stand and during rainy days the passengers and the mobile
vendors undergo immense difficulties to get on the bus and carry out
their business. According to him the Government should take steps to
carpet the bus stand while improving other facilities.
Street vendors in the Ampara town have been given uniforms and Rs.
3,000 worth cheques to each, Divi Neguma program implemented by the
Economic Development Ministry. We also undergo huge difficulties in
running our businesses during the rainy days.
A large number of major development projects have been implemented in
Ampara town including road development, parallel to Deyata Kirula
exhibition, he said.
Somachandra Peiris a passenger at the Ampara bus stand said that the
relevant authorities should take steps to keep the bus stand clean.
Everywhere there is betel spittle. Nobody can walk in the bus stand bare
foot. While the country is moving towards rapid development such
activities should be prevented. Ampara is also one of the busiest bus
stands. It should also be developed on par with other projects
implemented by the Government in the district.
Dissanayaka Mudiyansalage Piyaratne, a youth from Ampara town said
that the Government should take immediate steps to improve the
facilities of Ampara bus stand on par with other projects implemented by
the Government after the Deyata Kirula exhibition.
Swarnawattha Arachchilage Gunapala, a three wheeler driver said that
there is lack of parking place inside the bus stand to accommodate a
large number of vehicles.
He also said that the Ampara bus stand should be developed while
improving other important facilities. The Government should focus
attention towards the development of Ampara bus stand. The facilities in
the premises should also be improved.
Chanthni Hemanthi Hewapathirana, a women officer working in a private
institution praised the Government for bringing such a great development
to Ampara district in line with the Deyata Kirula exhibition. The
achieved development should be maintained properly, and then only
maximum benefit can be obtained by the next generation. Actually when
compared to other developments, the authorities have failed to develop
the Ampara bus stand, she said.
There is no rest room for the passengers. Destination boards are also
not available at the bus stand, she said. |
