Remarkable progress in transport sector

By Ananda KANNANGARA

Sri Lanka's transport sector has achieved a significant improvement under the present government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Both the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and the Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) have strengthened their fleet for the benefit of over 600,000 commuters travelling by buses and trains every day.

The Ministry of Transport will import new buses during the next four months and at the same time a large number of unused buses that are idling at depot yards will be repaired.

According to Ministry statistics, over 4,000 buses remain immobile at countrywide depot yards and some of them need only minor repairs.

The Ministry has also initiated several programs to strengthen the transport sector in the Northern and Eastern regions and also goods transport between the North and the South.

A senior Transport Ministry official said that steps have already been taken to import 500 new TATA buses from India within the next three months to increase the present fleet to 5,000.

He said there are 105 SLTB depots countrywide and they will be strengthened with brand new buses during the next three months.

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama said depots in Kalutara, Colombo and Gampaha operate over 1,000 buses every day. This number is not sufficient to cater to the needs of passengers.

He said additional buses will have to be deployed on the roads in the Western Province and accordingly over 100 new buses are needed to fulfil this requirement.

School bus shortage

Minister Welgama also paid special attention to the shortage of school buses in the Western and other provinces. Steps will be taken to increase the present fleet of 480 school buses with the addition of another 75 buses. There is a marked improvement in the schoolgoing population in the North and the Transport Ministry has therefore decided to strengthen the Northern Region Transport Board.

He said the present fleet of nearly 300 buses operated in the North cannot fulfil the needs of the Jaffna population. Another 75 new buses will be sent to the peninsula to operate a smooth service in the district.

Minister Welgama said the transport services in the North must be strengthened as the population has tremendously increased following the opening of Government offices, public and private banks, private sector enterprises, workshops, hospitals, shopping complexes and schools.

He also spoke about recommencing the Colombo-Jaffna CTB bus services after a period of nearly 30 years and said that 12 buses have already been deployed to ply between these two main cities everyday.

"Buses are also operated at night for the convenience of passengers who prefer night travelling.

Our next objective is to increase the present fleet for the benefit of persons who are engaged in goods transportation between Jaffna and Colombo".

Transport services between Jaffna and Kandy, Batticaloa, Matale, Ampara and Trincomalee will also be expanded in the coming months, considering the increase in the number of passengers. SLTB Chairman M.D. Bandusena said the SLTB also plans to operate air-conditioned buses on long distance routes following requests made by passengers.

Long distance routes

"More income could be generated by deploying AC buses, especially on long distance routes," he said.

On the development of rail services, Minister Welgama said five power sets will be shipped from India shortly.

He said the railway track to Talaimannar will be completed by the end of next year while the railway line beyond Tandikulam too will be completed shortly.

Thereafter, work on the track between Omanthai and Jaffna will commence. The project will be carried out by an Indian company.

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

Meanwhile, CGR General Manager A.G. Mahanama said the Railway Department provides a service to the people and it is not a profit-making institution.

They have decided to start many income generating projects to cover up their losses. The Department is expected to hire more carriages to foreign and local tour groups.

Tourist arrivals from foreign countries have significantly increased with the dawn of peace and the majority of foreign tour groups prefer to travel by train.

He said the present fleet of 100 locomotive engines and 45 power sets was not sufficient to cater to the needs of the increasing number of train commuters.

"Therefore, we have decided to import another 33 new power sets at a cost of Rs. 300 million each and train carriages at Rs. 35 million each", he said.